Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-08-19
AMERICANS AWAKE
TO TRADE CONFLICT
COMING AFTER WAR
INQUIRY CONVINCES EXPORTERS
HERE OF NEED OF HELPFUL
MEASURES.
WILL TRY HARD TO HOLD GAINS
MADE SINCE YEAR OF
1913
THE NATIONAL FOREIGN TRADE
COUNCIL MAKES PUBLIC RE-
SUITS OF INVESTIGATION.

NEW YORK. Aug. 14.-After a thor
ough investigation of the effect of the
European war on American oversee
commerce and Of the necessity Of
American exporters combining in the
same way as have the allied nations,
! the Committee on Cooperation in
| Foreign Trade of the National Foreign
Trade Council this morning made pub
lie its report. Analysing "Fortuitious
Elements in Present Foreign Com
merce," the committee says in part:
I'm 1913 the per capita foreign
trade of England was S149, of Ger
many $79 and of the United States
only $44 For 1916 it is estimated
that that of the United States i'll be
S63, or $5S, without ammunition and
firearms. This excess of export trade
over the normal rests largely upon
the following circumstances
| Bases of Excess Exports.
"(a) Abnormal war demand and
prices for munitions, foodstuffs and
raw materials.
"(b) Elimination of normal Euro
pean competition through occupation
of European factories in munitions
production.
"(c) Loss of labor through enlist
ment or CONSUMPTION and belligerent
restriction of normal expectation
"(O Curtailment of investment of
European capital in neutral markets,
normally a stimulus to European ex-
port trade"
The committee warns American
business men of the danger of relying
upon these abnormal conditions,
which have prevailed in the export
trade for nearly two years. 1t de-
clares it fallacy to neglect after the
war the following developments:
"(a) Cessation of war demand and
prices for munitions, reduction Of
foodstuffs and raw materials by rea-
son of restored European competition.
normal transportation and interna-
tional movement of raw materials.
"(b) Resumption of normal Euro
pean competition in home and neutral
markets by reason Of return OF SOL
diers to industry ard the lifting of
military embargoes from expectation
"(c) Renewed activity of European
export and import combinations with
increased governmental support and
possibly preferential tariff and navi-
cation arrangements under economic
alliances.
cd Renewal as rapidly as bust
ness conditions and national or even
international, fiscal policy will per-
nit, of European investment i'll neu-
trail markets. the most effective meth
cd of creating foreign preference
for merchandise of leading nations.
European war finance has been
moulded to protect trade winning for
eign investment; their nourishment
will not be neglected with peace "
Against the foregoing adverse elc-
ment," the committee says, must be
set the demands of renewed Eeace ac-
tiVities, return of confidence. demand
for materials for immediate recon
struction 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 All
ances succeeding the war alliances
now in force. Continuation of the
present condition spells European in
dustrial and governmental co-opera.
ton versus American compelled COM
petition"
The principle of the pending Webb
bill authorizing cooperation by ex-
Iporters, with adequate safeguards
against restriction of domestic com
merce, is strongly indorsed by the
Council Committee.