The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-02-02

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"The Imperial Government Of ia
pan has projected its enterprise into
foreign countries, with its govern
ment monopolies OF salt, camphor and
tobacco.
"These manifestations Of activity
In Europe and in the Orient are tndi.
cativc of the kind and character OF
competition that will be met in for
eign trade in the future.
subsequent to the war these condi-
lions will be emphasized and aGtivi-
ties will be intensified by the spur OF
economic necessity in some of the
nations of Europe.
Under conditions such as these,
the embarkation OF American enter
prise into foreign trade and the main
tenance Of Its rightful place there,
will require the strongest initiative
and the highest order Of business in
telligence.
"There is much Misrepresentation as
to the application OF the antitrust
laws to foreign commerce. OF course,
as matter Of fact, there is no greater
restriction upon American business in
the foreign fields than the law imposes
as to domestic. Nor does the law for
bid cooperation In either domestic or
foreign commerce except where 1t
amounts to a restraint Of trado of a
monopoly or a tendency to create
monopoly. The census taken by the
Federal Commission, directed to a
very large number OF business men OF
all classes, discloses that the great
body OF opinion In such circles Is that
cooperative effort in export trade Is
prohibited by the law: Our invests
CATION discloses that more than half
OF the men who answered our inquiry
stated it rs their understanding OF the
law that cooperative enterprise in ex-
port trade is prohibited even rs to
noncompeting ARTICLES situation
where ordinarily there would be no
competition to be restrained. It Is
fair statement of the fact that our In
vestigations disclose that doubt as to
the legality Of such enterprise in the
foreign fields amounted In many in
stances to prohibition of any action
in the foreign market. This belief is
undoubtedly one of the factors in the
situation which hinder the develop
nent of foreign trade at this time.
at is the opinion Of the Federal
Trade Commission that enterprise in
foreign trade should not be, impeded
hy conditions of this kind. In the alb
sence Of injury to any American In
terest a greater degree Of cooperation
in export trade than Is allowed in do
nestle trade may be beneficial to the
country. II this is not now permitted
by law, new legislation, to that end,
properly safeguarding the public In
terest. should be enacted.
"The danger which is most tmmt-
nent to the development Of our foreign
trade at this moment does not lie
within any limitation Of law. 1t comes
from business itself and the tmmi-
nence Of unprecedented domestic pros
perity. The conquest Of the foreign
market is a slow, laborious and palms.
taking project. The convenience OF
the home market, Its greater demand,
and the large profits OF great domestic
prosperity may seriously impade the
development OF the foreign field. The
remedy for that condition lies solely
with the good Judgment, the farsight-
edness, and the longheadedness OF
American, business. which will place
the wisdom OF building upon q strong
secure foundation before large profits
and temporary prosperity.
1.-THE European war has accumulated
the trade of the Americas. In con.
trast to the selfsufftcient nationalism