The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-27
=. Finance, Real Estate and Insurance =.
ALLIANCES WITH
EUROPEANS Are
AIDS To TRADE
American Economy Closely
Related to Sources of Sup
ply Across Water.

l
Related to Sources of Sup
ply Across Water.
New York, Nov. 27-The extent
to which the life and industry of the
United States depend upon the prod
ucts of the countries now at war is
analysed in q report just issued as g.
part Of the National Foreign Trade
Councils investigation of the possible
affect of European economic alliances
| on American foreign trade. Although
| it Is shown that this country only in
rare instances is absolutely dependent
| upon foreign supplies, the analysis
establishes the fact that the efficiency
economy and convenience of import
| ant American manufacturing and ex-
porting activities have been directly
related to the established sources of
foreign supply of crude and semi
manufactured materials. The report
says:
''Of 21S commodities, each of an
import value Of moro than 100000
in 1913, 121 were principally import
ed from nations Of the Allied group
Gncluding the British Colonies),
while only 40 principally came from
the Central Powers. In but a. cases
neutral countries we're the source OF
principal supply. This Allied superb
ority results from the United States
extensive importations from the Brit
ish colonies. The United Kingdom
exclusive Of the British colonies) ap-
pears IS times among the countries
OF principal supply and Germany As
times"
Changes IN such sources are pos
sibilihes resulting from the European
alliances. Increased cost Of the sup
ply Of the materials concerned in
such changing, it Is held, may result
if either or both the Entente and
Central allied economic groups seek
to conserve their own materials for
their own. use, cost being enhanced
either through the operation of the
tifcial restrictions such as the Cana
dian prohibition Of the expectation Of
Crown1and pulp woods.
LIT would seem that policies d.
rected to establish self-sufficiency in
either or both groups would tend to
a. re-arrangement rather than to
denial of supply Of raw MATERIAL
says the report I'm other words, If
the Allies endeavor to- draw their
draw their raw materials exclusively
from among themselves, neutral
sources of supply will be relied upon
by other nations now depending upon
the Allies"
The dependence Of this country up
on the rest Of the world for foodstuffs
is such that interruption of supply
would not be serious. Importations
are mostly in specialties. There is no
actual dependence for foodstuffs up
on either allied group by this coun-
try. Tea and coffee are possible ex-
cepions to the practical independ-
ence of this country Of others for
food. The former is almost wholly
supplied by one neutral, Brazil and
the latter could be supplied wholly
by other neutrals.
"a secure supply Of raw materials
and partly manufactured goods is es-
sential to the future export trade"
continues the report. 1.-THE shortage
In the supply of several materials
used for Industrial purposes in this
country since the outbreak of the war
has disclosed the fact that the United
States manufacturing industry is not
completely self-supperting.
The report refers to the efforts to
create coal tar dye industry here
to replace these products from Ger
many and describes the sources of
other articles for which the United
States depends on other countries
"In the case Of manganese where
British India and Russia, during
1913, were the principal suppliers,
supplies are being increasingly drawn
from BRAZIL 1T continues sFor
nickel, however, the United States is
practically entirely dependent upon
Allied sources aF'rom 1911 to 1913,
nickel was imported only from Cam
ada and to an extremely small per-
centage, also from. Belgium. Also in
tin a strong dependence upon for
eign supplies exists and attention is
being given the development of neu-
trail resources. The silk consumed
by the American silk industry comes
mostly from Japan and Italy, China
supplying about one-eight of the
present import
| 1T seems that none of the goods
/ chiefly imported into this country
| during 1913, really need be imported
| and that they could be done without
for a prolonged period by using ac-
cumulated stocks if it should become
imperative in the interest Of the ma
ton to dispense with such imports.
The development of American indus
try has been one Of opportunity, con-
venience and economy. American
manufacturers, therefore, have alb
stained frequently from making goods
the manufacture of which did not
seem profitable under American con-
ditions and have left it to the i'm
porters to supply the real or imagi-
nary needs Of the country When
| two years ago the regularity of this
convenient supply was checked,
shortage of certain supplies existed
until the American industry adjust
| ed itself to new conditions"