El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-11-27
j 8. DEPENDENT
FOR FEW THINGS
European War Causes In
conveniences in Rare In
stances Says Report.

New York. Nov 27.-The extent 10
which the life and industry of the
United States depend upon the products
Of the countries now at war is anlyzed
in report just issued as a part of the
National Foreign Trade councils in
vestigation of the possible effect of
European economic alliances on Ameri-
can foreign trade
Although it is shown that this coun-
try only in rare instances is absolutely
dependent upon foreign supplies. the
analysis establishes the fact that the
efficiency, economy and convenience OF
important American manufacturing and
exporting activities have been directly
related to the established sources of
foreign supply of crude and semimanu-
featured materials. The report says
of 213 commodities. each of an I'M
port value of more than S1,0O0,OOc in
1913. 121 were principally imported
from nations of the allied group lin
GLIDING the British cOlOnies), while only
49 principally came from the central
powers In but ~ cases neutral coun-
tries were the source OF principal sup
ply. This allied superiority results from
the United SIates'S extensive lmporta-
tons from the British colonies. The
United Kingdom exclusive of the Brit
ish colonies) appears IS times among
the countries of principal supply and
Germany 45 times"
NOT Dependent Tor EOOdS1uffs.
The dependence Of this country upon
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 de-
pendence for foodstuffs upon either al
lied group by this country. Tea and cof-
fee are possible exceptions to the prac-
teal independence 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 essential
TO the future export trade" continues
the report The shortage in the supply
of several materials used for industrial
purposes in this country since the out
break of the war has disclosed the fact
that the United States manufacturing
industry is not completely self-sup-
porting
The report refers to the efforts to
create a coal tar dye industry here to
replace these products from Germany
and describes the sources of other ar
ticles for which the United States de-
ponds on other countries.
Draws on Brazil for Manganese.
In the case Of manganese. where
British India and Russia. during 1913.
were the principal supplies. supplies are
being increasingly drawn from Brazil"
il continues For nickel. however. the
United States is practically entirely de-
Bendent upon allied sources From 1911
10 1913, nickel was imported only from
Canada and TO an extremely small per-
centage- also from Belgium Also in tin
strong dependence upon foreign sup
Plies exists and attention is being given
the development of neutral resources
The silk consumed by the American silk
industry comes mostly from Japan and
Italy. China supplying about one-eighth
OF the present import
ImPOrtations Not Necessary.
Tt seems that none of the goods
chiefly imported into this country dur
ing 1913, really need be imported and
that they could be done without for a
prolonged period by using accumulated
stocks If il should become imperative in
the interest of the nation to dispense
with such imports. The development of
American industry has been one of op-
portunity, convenience and economy
American manufacturers. therefore,
have abstained frequently from making
goods the manufacture of which did not
seem profitable under American condi-
tions and have left il to the importers
to supply the real or imaginary needs /
OF the country"