The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-11
FARRELL StNUSUUI FORMAL CALL FOR
 P|TTSBURG SESSION
Foreign Trade Councils Convention of Vital Inter-
 est to Manufacturers
HEAR REPORTS ON
 YEARS RESEARCH
One Session Will Be Devoted to Leg islative Needs to Meet Condi- tions When the War
 Is Over

Is Over
 1 The National Foreign Trade council s
 fourth convention Is to be held in Pitts burg January 25, 26 and 27, and g. copy | of the formal call of Chairman James A. 1 Farrell. who is also president of the United States Steel corporation, was re- ceived in Birmingham yesterday The call is based on the councils re- ] search into problems of foreign trade
 since the last foreign trade convention
 was held at New Orleans, and says in part:
 "The many problems arising in the foreign trade of the United States merit the earnest consideration of Americans representing all activities related to 1 over-sea commerce and all sections of the country. The convention will con- sider among others the following ques- tions:
 Conditions in foreign markets after the war, and the measure necessary to safeguard American foreign trade, as we'll as the foreign trade aspect of the American tariff system.
 "Co-operation in foreign trade develop
 ment
 "The American merchant marine. Foreign investment of American cap- ital as an aid to oversea commerce. Problems of the smaller manufacturer and merchant.
 "All Americans engaged in, or desir- ous of entering oversea commerce, and particularly all boards of trade, cham bers of commerce and other commercial and industrial organizations, are in- vited to participate, either individually or by appointment of delegates, in a
 practical and constructive discussion of
 policies and practices necessary to meet States may encounter in world markets after the war.
 SOLVE MUTUAL PROBLEMS "The proceedings will be designed to bring out the mutual interests of the chief elements in foreign trade, namely, manufacturing, agriculture and other natural production, including mining and the lumber industry, merchandising, transportation and banking. In addition to prepared addresses by authorities on topics mentioned, the convention will be largely given over to group sections,' each devoted to intensive discussion of a single problem, in which all delegates are at liberty to participate.
 A number of gentlemen long eXpe- ,ienced and successful in foreign trade will act as volunteer trade advisers and improved facilities will be provided for bringing into conference with them dele gates who desire information and ad- t1,;o rI,a cfo +n .ortr,o rx-ilI +an several United States consuls general to the convention for purposes of indi- vidual consultation, to provide informa- ton to delegates, and the secretary of commerce has similarly assigned off cially from the bureau of foreign and domestic commerce to duty at Pittsburg
 during the convention.
 "The convention will thus offer cx- ceptional opportunities for the individual
 delegate to obtain information, as well
 as the benefit of the addresses and dis
 cussion in the convention sessions.
 FOREIGN TRADE VITAL Foreign trade is vital element in domestic prosperity whether such pros perty be enhanced by war demands or diminished by lack of foreign orders in peace. The constructive encouragement of sound national foreign trade policy will be the purpose of the convention in which the cooperation of all elements engaged in, or affected by, foreign trade is invited and will be welcomed" The council, which is a nonpolitical and | nonpartisan board of 50 prominent mer- chants manufacturers, bankers, farmers
 and other producers of natural commodi- ties, railroad and steamship men, con stantly engaged in investigation of for | eign trade problems and encouragement of sound national foreign trade policy, will present to the convention report | On World Trade Conditions After the European War This will make pubic l the result of a year of research into l war changes in European commercial
 and industrial organization, the possible effect of European economic alliances upon the foreign trade of the United
 States. the industrial reconstruction Of | devastated areas of Europe and the prob ] able post bellum competing power of | various nations.
 In this report the council will offer
 certain recommendations for national commercial preparedness. to meet the 1 changed conditions after the war. w. w. l Nichols, of the Allis-Chalmers company. chairman of the American Fndustrlal commission to France, will speak upon 1 European Reconstruction. Wiiafe Straight, vice president of the American International corporation. will make ar l of the Tariff" dealing with methods whereby the tariff whatever be its un- deriving principle, may be given adequate iesources for the encouragement Of Tor eign trade and it's protection from undue
 6iscriminat ton.
 LEGISLATION NEEDED
 An entire session of the convention
 will be devoted to the necessity of leg
 islation, authorizing cooperation among
 American exporters who are now indi-
 vidually obliged through the doubt sur
 rounding the application of the antitrust
 laws to foreign trade, to cope With gov
 ernment- encouraged combinations of for
 eign rivals and often to sell to com
 binations of foreign buyers equipped tt
 6epress the prices of American products
 The necessity for enactment of the Webt
 bill, now before the Senate, will be sub
 ject of an address by Robert Il. Patch
 in, secretary of the National Foreigr
 Trade Council, and the necessity for co
 operation in the export of natural com