New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-11
No Fear of Europe's Elk.
ports if We Prepare, Com
merCe Chiefs View
PROSPERITY GREAT
AND Is GENUINE"
Nation Can Hold Much of
Wartime Business, Even
i'm War Zone
From The rrfbune Bureau !

Washington, Dec. 10.-If the United
States has succeeded in bringing its
industrial eqipment and its distribut-
ing machinery TO the highest state Of
efficiency when the war ends she will
have nothing TO fear from the other
great exporting nations. This is the
view Of DR.. Edward Ewing Pratt, chief
Of the United States Bureau of For
eign and Domestic Commerce, as ex-
pressed in his annual report made pub
lie to-day.
Before the European nations now
engaged in war will be able seriously
TO undertake foreign trade they will
have TO fill their domestic wants. NO
matter how much they want foreign
trade, no matter how much they may
need it. they will first have TO set
their own houses in order" says Dr.
Pratt, who declares that it Is absurd
to contend that the European nations
will be able TO do more after the war
than they did before.
Prosperity Great and Genuine
DR.. Pratt emphasizes the Importance
OF building up at this time as much
trade as possible outside the war zone.
He says:
"These facts, I believe, are evident:
First, that the United States Is going
through a period of very great and
genuine prosperity; second, that our
foreign trade has very greatly eN-
tended, not only with Europe, but with
other parts Of the world. The ques-
ton that must now be considered is
whether or not we will be able to re-
tain this increased trade or any very
large part Of it.
Contrary TO the general opinion
that the increase in our exports is
caused entirely by larger shipments OF
munitions Of war TO the belligerent
countries, the fact Is that the increase
in the exports Of articles which would
be sold, war or no war, Is more than
double the increase in ammunition and
firearms and just about double the in
crease In the war supplies.
"The total increase in the articles
which are normally exported in times
OF peace forms practically one-half OF
the increase in our total exports.
Exports Outside War Zone
"This increase in the exports Of ar
ticles for civil use is general through
out the various grand divisions Of the
world, and that is the really significant
fact shown by the statistics. The IN
crease in our exports TO countries en-
tirelv outside the war zone has been
considerable, and this gain is expected
TO be permanent and 20 increase still
further.
"The increase in imports has been
unprecedented, but II has been OF
most satisfactory character" he says.
For the most part it is Of materials
not produced at all in this country or
not produced in sufficient quantities 70
meet the needs Of our domestic manu-
facturers. Before the war a consld-
cradle quantity Of this material was
used in Europe TO manufacture finished
goods for sale to US.
Conditions have so changed that we
find it not only profitable TO do this
manufacturing ourselves, but actually
have engaged in manufacturing some
Of the material for reexport TO Europe
Trade viii Continue
81 have no doubt that when normal
conditions are restored we shall con
tinue much Of this direct importation
of materials that formerly reached US
indirectly. manufactured or unmanu-
featured. by way of Europ> and shall
even continue to manufacture some Of
the material for reeXportation to ku-
rope"
Figures are presented to show an
actual decrease Of S134,000,00O for the
vesr in imports ready for consumption