The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-15
(By Associated Press.)

Council which has been investigating
the effect of the European war on
American oversee commerce and the
necessity of permitting American ex-
porters the same rights to combine
that are enjoyed by their competitors,
today made public its report. Analy-
izing "Fortuitous Elements in Present
Foreign Commerce, it says in part:
"In 1913 the per capita foreign
trade of England was $149, of Ger
many $40, and of the United States
s44. For 1916 it is estimated that
that of the United States will be 1853
or $5S without ammunition and fire.
arms.
This excess of export trade over
the normal rests largely upon the fol-
lowing circumstances:
Abnormal war demand and prices
for munitions, foodstuffs and raw ma
terials.
elimination of the normal Euro
pean competition through occupation
of European factories in munitions
production.
LOSS of labor through enlistment
or conscription and belligerent restric-
ton of normal expectation.
80 Of Tn
ropean capital in neutral markets,
normally a stimulus to European ex-
port trade.
"These abnormal conditions having
prevailed in the export trade for near
ly two years, many Americans are in
danger of relying upon them as per-
manent. No greater fallacy is posi-
BILE than to neglect to expect, after
the war the following developments:
I Cessation of war-demand and
prices for munitions, reduction of pre-
vailing high prices for exported food
stuffs and raw materials and interna-
tional movement of raw materials.
Resumption Of normal European
competition in home and neutral
markets by reason of return of sol
diers to industry and the lifting of
military embargoes from expectation.
Renewed activity of European ex-
port and import combinations with in
creased governmental support and
possibly preferential tariff and naviga-
tion arrangements under economic
alliances.
Renewal as rapidly as business
conditions and national. or even in
ternational, fiscal policy will permit
of European investment in neutral
markets, the most effective method
of creating a foreign preference for
merchandise of leading nations. Eu.
roptan war finance has been moulded
to protect trade-winning foreign in
vestments; their nourishment will not
be neglected with peace.
Against the foregoing adverse ele
ment must be set the demands of re
newed peace activities, return of con
fidence, demand for materials for i'm
mediate reconstructio of devastated
districts and revival of development
enterprises.
"Europe's accustomed instrument
for these activities will be co-opera
tive effort beginning with cartels and
trade associations of producers, man.
ufacturers, exporters and bankers re,
inforced by the backing of the State
and, unless the discussions with
which industrial Europe now vibrates
shall fail, supplemented by economic
alliances succeeding the war ALI.
ances now in force. Continuation OF
the present condition spells European
industrial and governmental coopera
ton versus American compelled com
petition"
The principal of the pending Webb
bill authorizing cooperation by ex
porters, with adequate safeguards
against restriction of domestic com
merce, is strongly endorsed by the
Council Committee consisting of:
Chairman, John ID. Ryan, j. A. G
Carson, James A. Farrell II. C. Lewis
Manager, William H. Russo, Theo. B
: Wilcox, and Robert H. Patchin.
In addition to preventing leagues
of foreign buyers from purchasing
American natural products at less
than the domestic prices and
increasing the facilities of manu-
ncturers and merchants of moderate
size for export trade. the Council de
rclares that cooperation in exporting
will permit the following advantages;
-