Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-12-03
AMERICA IS NOT
SELF SUPPORTING

NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-THE extent
TO which the life and industry of the
United States depend upon the prod
ucts of the countries now at war l3
analyzed in a report just issued as
a part of the national foreign trade
councils investigation of the pos
sble effect of European economic al
liances on American foreign trade.
Altho it is shown that this country
only in rare instances is absolutely de-
pendent upon foreign supplies, the
analysis establishes the fact that the
efficiency, economy and convenience
of important American manufacture
ing and exporting activities have bc'1
directly related to tho established
sources of foreign supply of crude and
semimanufactured materials. The re-
port says:
"Of 213 commodities, each of an
import value of more than Sl,OO0,OOO
in 1913, l2l were principally imported
from nations of the allied group Gn-
cludng the British colonies), while
only 40 principally came from the
central powers. In but "A cases
neutral countries were the source of
principal supply. This allied superi
ority results from the United States
extensive importations from tho
British colonies. The United Kingdom
(exclusive of the British colonies)
appears 40 times among the countries
of principal supply and Germany 40
times"
Changes in such sources are posi-
bilities 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 con
serve their own materials for their
own use, cost being enhanced either
the operation of the laws of supply
and demand or by artificial restric-
tions such as the Canadian prohibi-
ton of the expectation of crownland
pulp woods.
at would seem that policies di-
rected to establish self-sufficiency in
either or both groups would tend to
Encouragement rather than to
says the report. In other words, If
the allies endeavor to 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
upon the rest of the world for food
ply would not be serious. Imoprta-
tions are mostly in specialties. There
is no actual dependence for foodstuffs
upon either allied group by this
country. Tea and coffee are possible
exceptions to the practical independ-
ence OF this country of others for food.
The former is almost wholly supplied
BY one neutral, Brill. 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. 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 sef-supporting."
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
articles for which tho United States
depends on other countries.