Grand Forks herald., 1916-08-15
TRADE
BOOSTS EXPORTS
OF u. s. FIRMS
Will Not Continue, Though,
and Special Board Is
sues Warning.

SNSo w al AAAASs
Washington, Aug. 1.-THE an
nouncement was made by the Federal
Trade Commission that its investiga-
ton into the print paper situation Is
being delayed by the fact that some
newspaper publishers are failing to
make response to the commissions 8
questions According to information
given TO the commission. this delay
has been caused in part by the fear
of some publishers that their com.
plants will reach the manufacturers
Of paper and their supplies of paper
will be cut of.
In the announcement issued today
the commission reiterates its previ-
munications received by the commits
sion will be regarded as confidential.
At its regular meeting yesterday the
commission devoted several hours to
the news print investigation and con-
sidered especially the reports received
from its field agents. who are obtain
ing information from the books of the
news print manufacturers in the
United States and Canada. The state
ment issued by the commission to-
day follows:
The commission is conducting q
broad and thorough investigation COW
ering all phases of the question. A
large force Of men Is now engaged
in collecting information from orig
inal sources, such as the records of
news print manufacturers. paper job-
mass Of information collected ia being
worked up in the Office and consider
ed by the commission as fast as it is
received 80 that its conclusions may
be made public at the earliest possi-
BILE moment.
Some delay is being experienced
by reason of the fact that newspa per
publishers are not sending in their
schedules as promptly as desired.
Reports have been received to the ef-
feet that some publishers are hesitat-
ing to answer the commissions in
quiries, fearing that their complaints
will reach the paper manufacturers
and they will have their supplies cut
off. The commission has assured all
such publishers that their commune
cations will be treated as confidential
when requested: and. therefore; they
need not have the least hesitation in
furnishing the commission with all
the information in their possession"
New York, Aug. 14.-The commit
tee on cooperation in foreign trade
Of the national foreign trade council
which has been investigating the ef-
feet of the European war on Ameri-
can oversee commerce and the neces-
sity Of permitting American exporters
the same rights to combine that are
enjoyed by their competitors. today
"Fortuitous Elements in Present For
eign Commerce." It says in part:
"1n 1918 the per capita foreign
trade of England was $149, Of Ger
many $40 and Of the United States
only s44. For 1915 it is estimated
that that Of the United States will be
$50 or $5s without ammunition ana
''This excess OF export trade over
the normal rests largely upon the
following circumstances:
Abnormal war demand and prices
for munitions, foodstuffs and raw ma
terials.
competition through occupation of
European factories In munitions pro-
duction.
LOSS Of labor through enlistment
or conscription and belligerent re-
striction Of normal expectation.
"Curtailment of investment Of
European capital in neutral markets,
normally stimulus to European ex-
port trade.
These abnormal conditions having
prevailed in the export trade for near
ly two years, many Americans are in
danger Of relying upon them as per-
manent. No greater fallacy is posi-
BILE than to neglect to expect, after the
war, the following Developments:
Cessation or war-demand and
prices for munitions, reduction Of pre-
vailing high prices for exported food.
stuffs and raw materials by reason OF
restored, European competition, nor
NAL transportation 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
Renewed activity of European ex-
port and import combinations with
increased governmental support and
possibly preferential tariff and navi-
cation ARA ngements under economic
alliances.
Renewal. as rapidly as business
conditions and national. or even in
ternational, fiscal policy will permit,
Of European investment In neutral
markets. the most effective method
of creating a foreign preference for
merchandise of leading nations. Euro
pean war finance has been moulded to
protect trade-winning foreign invest
ments; their nourishment will not be
neglected with peace.
"Against the foregoing adverse ele-
ment must be set the demands of re-
newed peace activities. return of con-
fidnce, demand for materials for i'm
mediate reconstruction Of devastated
districts and revival Of development
enterprises.
"Europe's accustomed instrument
for these activities will be co-opera-
tive effort beginning with cartels and
trade associations of producers. man.
ufacturers. exporters and bankers re-
inforced by the backing Of the state,
and, unless the discussions with which
industrial Europe now vibrates shall
fail, supplemented by economic al
liances succeeding the war alliances
now in force. Continuation of the
present condition spells European in
dustrial and governmental co-opera-
tion versus American compelled COM
petition"
The principal 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.
James A. Farrell, H. G. Lewis, |
manager William H. Russo. Theo B.
Wilcox and Robert H. Patchin.
In> addition to preventing leagues |
American natural products at less
than the domestic prices and increas-
ing the facilities of manufacturers |
and merchants Of moderate size for |
export trade, the council declares that |
in exporting will permit |