Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-05
Commercial Attaches

In Berlin. London. Paris, Pctrograd.
Rio de Janeiro. Buenos Aires, Mel
bourne, Picking and other important
trade ccnters, the United States main
tains, in addition 10 its regular con-
suls. commercial attaches chosen for
their ability to search out new markets
and Interest prospective buyers in
American products. They work under
the direction OF the Bureau OF Foreign
and Domestic Commerce. which is a
part Of the Department OF Commerce.
and their usefulness TO the business in
tcrests OF this country may. be judged
by tho fact that although this bureau
mas been organized only three years, its
last annual report shows that It
brought business to the value Of $50.
100000 To this country at n total cost
To tho taxpayers of 1915, 900. In add! :
ton to the reports received from the
regular commercial attaches. the gov
eminent maintains $50 consular Offices
from which reports of possible mar
kets are received. Until the establish
ment of the Bureau OF Foreign and
DomcStic Commerce, the government
depended solely on consuls for its in
formation. But it was found that while
many OF them were proficient as con-
suls, few of them were good statesmen:
hence the Introduction OF the CONNER
cial attache.
When a commercial attache finds a
buyer for goods which he knows Amer
ican manufacturers can furnish at a
price which makes competition with
other countries possible he immediate-
~ notifies the bureau at Washington.
IF the time is short, he uses the cable.
inc bureau has on file the names of
100000 American merchants and manu-
facturers who seek foreign markets.
FROM each 1t has obtained statement
telling what he is able and willing to
make or sell, and which markets he
wishes to cultivate. The bureau pub
liShes daily paper in which it gives
brief accounts of conditions as report ed
by the commercial attaches. This
paper Is sent to all persons interested.
and upon request the bureau furnishc s
complete information about any mark ct
mentioned. In order further To stimn-
late trade, ii sends SpeciaI notices to
manufacturers and merchants who
have requested this service, and if the
time is short, telcgraphs its-notices.
The New York Sun calls attention to
one instance in which n firm in Dublin
was in the market for some boxes The
commercial attachc at Dublin notified
the bureau at Washington and the
bureau in turn printed a notice in the
daily report. Several firms requested
additional information, which the bu-
reau furnished, together with complete
specifications Of the goods required,
credit references OF the inquirinE firm
in Dublin, terms and other valuable in
formation. One of the interested Amer
lean firms found that il could furnish
precisely what was wanted, and the
order came 40 this country. The at
tachcs send in blue prints. catalogues
prices, samples and other things which
keep American manufacturers and mcr-
chants in touch with what their com
petitors are doing, and which enable
them to keep abreast Of changes in
styles, types of machinery and other
peculiarities of the market AS soon
as this bureau can secure an increa sc
In its appropriation. the same plan will
be followed with regard to domestic
markets Its success in the foreign
field leads to the belief that it can rem
der a great service at home