Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-14

New York, Aug. 1.-THE committee
on cooperation in foreign trade OF the
National Foreign Trade Council when
has been investigating the effect OF the
European war on American oversee
commerce and the necessity of permit
ting American exporters the same
rights to combine that are enjoyed o!
their competitors, today made puolic
its report. Analysing "Fortuitous Ele.
ments in Present Foreign Commerce,
it says in part:
In 1913 the per capita foreign trade
of England was .S149, of Germany Vs.
and of the United States only s44. FOR
1916 il is estimated that that of the
United States will be 500 or SIS without
ammunition and firearms.
This excess of export trade over the
normal rests largely upon the follow
ing circumstances:
Abnormal war demand and prices
for munitions, foodstuffs and raw ma
terials.
elimination of normal European
competition thru occupation of Euro
pean factories in munitions produc-
ton.
Loss of labor thru enlistment or
CONSUMPTION and belligerent restriction
of normal expectation.
"Curtailmcnt OF investment of Eu-
ropean capital in neutral markets. nor
maly stimulus to European export
trade.
Conditions Not Permanent.
These abnormal conditions having
prevailed in the export trade for nearly
two years. many Americans are in dan
ger of relying upon them as perma-
nent. No greater fallacy is possible
than to neglect to expect after the war.
the following developments:
Cessation OF war demand and prices
for munitions, reduction of prevailing
high prices for exported foodstuffs and
raw materials by reason OF restored
European competition, normal trans
portation and international movement
of raw materials.
Resumption of normal European
competition in home and neutral mar
kets by reason of return of soldiers TO
industry and the lifting Of military en-
barsoes from expectation.
Renewed activity of European ex-
port and import combinations with in
creased governmental support and pos
sibiy preferential tariff and navigation
arrangements under economic alliances.
Renewal, as rapidly as business con.
ditions and national3 or even interna-
tioal. fiscal policy will permit, of Euro
pean investment in neutral market, the
most effective method of creating
foreign preference for merchandise OF
leading nations. European war finance
has been moulded to protect trade
winning foreign investments: their
nourishment VIII not be neglected with
peace.
Against the foregoing adverse ele-
ment must be set the demands of re-
newed peace activities, return Of con-
iidence demand for materials for i'm
mediate reconstruction of devastated
districts and revival of development
enterprises.
"Europe's accustomed instrument fof
these activities will be cooperative eff.
for. beginning with cartels and trade
associations of producers, manufacture
ers, exporters and bankers reinforced
by the backing OF the state and, unless
the discussions with which industrial
Europe now vibrates shall fail, sup
plemented by economic alliances sue
ceeding the war alliances now in force.
Continuation of the present condition
spells European industrial and govern
mental cooperation versus American
compelled competition
The principle 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 D. Ryan, J. A. G. Car
son, James a. Farrell H. c. Lewis.
manager, William H. Russo, Theo B.
Wilcox and Robert H. Patchin.
Urges Cooperation.
In addition to preventing leagues Of
| foreign buyers from purchasing Amer
| lean natural products at less than the
| domestic prices and increasing the ia
| cilitieS of manufacturers and merchants
! of moderate size for export trade, the
council declares that cooperation in
| exporting will permit the following adj
yantages:
Maintenance of highly organized ex-
| port service at minimum cost to partic-
ipants employment of American ad-
yantages in advertising, technical dem
onstration and follow-up methods.
Improved credit information and fl
nancins of foreign sales, more advant-
agsous traffic contracts thru greater
and regular tonnage, superior facilities
for customs brokerage, warehousing,
! etc.
| Assumption, by the cooperative or
CARNATIONS, Of credit extension which
manufacturers dependent upon a quick
turnover Of capital are unable to pro-
| vide.
| Survival of initial losses, fatal to an
Individual company which are some
times incurred before American goods
gain foothold
| division of foreign business upon an
agreed basis adopted to the mutual in
terest of all participants from the
standpoint of sustained labor employ
ms1t and ability to produce at price
to meet foreign competition"