Evening star., 1915-02-03
Samuel McRoberts Talks
on FOREIGN Trade Needs

Samuel McRoberts. vice presioent OF
the National City Bank of New YORK.
today discussed before the convention
"Our National Policy as to Invest
ments Abroad" declaring that the
North American standards OF business
morals should be rigidly adhered TO-
regardless Of the customs or business
ethics of people where new foreign
trade enterprises may be located by
business men of the United States.
Mr.. McRoberts said in part:
"In the orient, in the Caribbean. in
the northern part of South America IN
Mexico, we have the opportunity to DO
great constructive work. and by so
doing win a place of our own in the
future commerce of those lands, Just
as England did in India or the Aregn-
tine. under even more dlfncult co!iu,.
tions. The uncertainty of protection
stands squarely in the way. II you
want to do anything in these countries,
the standing advice is to get under
the English. French or German nag
Needs for Trade.
"As long as a question can be fatsed
as to the property rights of Americans
in respect to investments made outside
of the territory of the United States.
our foreign commerce will langulsh
Nothing beyond sporadic efforts Will
be made. Capital and the life efforts of
many men are required. Capital is
timid, and naturally wants to stay at
home. 1t can only be coaXed over the
border Men will not risk their life
work and hope of reward upon uncer-
tainties No broad and comprehensive
campaign will be possible without the
same certainty of support and protec-
ton that is afforded by the foreign
offices of every world power but our
own.
"This defect in our foreign policy can
only be remedied by a wider and
clearer understanding of the whole
question and the resultant action of
public opinion. What we need is
der our form of government no policy
can be constant unless based upon
public opinion. That we
have wise and courageous men at the
head of our government does not suf-
fee.
-Four years IS as day in the life of
a. nation, and effort is wasted as long
as it is possible to have one foreign
policy on March and another March \.
our public men are nee
limited in their activities by
how far the country can be induced to
follow them, and we must recognize
that limitation.
Current Questions.
You need not talk to more than a
half-dozen men on this subject before
being confronted with such questions
as
Are We going to send good Ameri-
cans into foreign countries to be shot
just to protect somebody's investment
Are We going to incur the risk of
a war for the sake of a little trade?
Are we going to turn our navy
into collection agency
These questions may express a mar
row point of view, but they are too
frequent and too significant of the
general trend OF thought not to make
any Secretary Of State consider how
far he can go and still preserve his
usefulness. From the first all efforts
to improve the consular service and
make more effective all governmental
agencies for disseminating information
as to foreign markets and trade Gus
toms have met with hearty approval
from the general public. and the de-
velopment of these governmental aids
has consequently been continuous and
more or less constant. But when any
action looking toward the aid of com
merce through plan of state that
might involve this country politically
with any foreign power has been pro-
posed or instituted, the American pub
lie has baked and the plan has failed.
Must Educate Public.