The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-12
Commercial Preparedness

One of the most important conven- tions scheduled for next year is that arranged by the national foreign trade council to be held in New Orleans January 27, 2S and 29.
 The first convention of this body was held in Washington, D. C., Tn May, 1914. The second was held Tn St. Louis and the attendance was large and was particularly representative of the manufacturing, commercial and banking interests of the east and the middle west.
 James A. Farrell, the leading spirit in the creation of the national foreign trade council, and chairman of the organization, has reasons for thinking that the forthcoming convention at New Orleans will be even more large ly attended than that at St. Louis. He is urging an especially representa- tive attendance from the south. Formal invitations will be issued to chambers of commerce, bankers and others, but it is understood that any responsible business concern will be welcomed at the convention even though. it may not have received an official card Manufacturers or others desir ous of participating in the pro- ceedings of the convention need only communicate with the secretary of the council at GA Stone street, New York city, ill order to be listed as delegate and furnished with the proper certifi- cate.
 The keynote of the New Orleans convention will be commercial pre- paredness." Mr. Farrell, in recent statement prepared for the Baltimore Manufacturers Record, says in part:
 The unprecedented export of the past 12 months has been the most decisive factor in year of improving business and has made possible the activity of industry and the employment of labor other wise wholly or in part idle. The was misfortunes of others have benefited our international com mercial position and dollar eX- change will be more of a factor under the new order of things which will prevail when the war in Europe is over. Far more rapidly than continued peace would have permitted, we have accumulated a gold balance and nave redeemed American securities held abroad.
 It is apparent, however, that this demonstration of the fact that foreign trade is vital element in domestic prosperity is largely due to the abnormal conditions occa- stoned by war. The greater volume and value of exports of foodstuffs and munitions, thereby created, bears little resemblance to the nor mal trade of peace, to which it is to be hoped the world will as speedily as possible, be restored. During the last fiscal year our eX- ports to the countries other than European generally decreased. By reason of the curtailed purchasing power of countries dependent upon European investment it has been impossible to extend certain eX- port lines which were developing prior to the war, although we have purchased the products of many neutral countries in increased vol ume and thereby greatly aided their position. This is notably true of Latin American countries.
 Whatever may be the political outcome of the European war. changes of territorial lines or CO., lonial domination, it is apparent that each of the belligerents now engaged will find it essential te vigorously pursue its foreign trade to repair the ravages to its do- nestle commerce, to provide labor U, to soldiers returned to peaceful pursuits and to ameliorate the bur den of taxation.
 Diplomacy of the future as of the past will be intimately con- cerned with commercial aggran- dizement and it is of vital conse- ouence to Americas future position that advantage be taken of the present opportunity to exploit the products of American invention, enterprise. ingenuity and quality to