New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-27
u. S. Bureau Urges Amer
leans to Take Similar
Measures
Schools Study Methods
Secondary Pupils Instructed
in Many Branches of Com
mercial Science
'speciL COrr.srcndenc,l

'SpeciL Corr.spcndenc,l
WASHINGTON. Aug. 26.-Germany's
preparations for resumption and ex-
pansion Of her commercial activity
after the war and the bearing these
plans should have on the commercial
future OF the United States are de-
scribed in a statement issued to-day by
the Bureau Of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce. The statement is based on
a report prepared by Chauncey D. Snow.
assistant chief Of the bureau, who was
in Germany investigating commercial
and industrial conditions when the war
began.
I'm looking to the future" states the
bureau, "the United States has many of
the same problems as Germany and the
other warning nations. Like the Ger
man exporters, the American export
ers have TO face a period Of sharp bust
ress competition in foreign countries
such as probably has never before been
met. In Germany the individual bust
ness man, all the local and great ma
tlonal associations of business men and
the government departments are even
now strenuously occupied with the
problems that must be worked out
The American business mems as
sociations and the government depart
m-nts are alive 10 the importance Of
these matters, and upon their indi-
vldual and cooperative efforts through
the coming critical years will depend in
large measure the nations future in
international commerce.
Growth of German Trade
THE German export trade to oversee
countries was insignificant until about
the middle OF the eighteenth century,
principally for the reason that the
countries with colonial possessions
maintained stringent laws prohibiting
foreigners 10 trade with the colonies
and excluding foreign flags from their
ports. The colonies were forced 10 sell
their products TO the motherland
Owing 10 their favorable position the
Hanss cities Of Germany, chief of them
Hamburg, nevertheless did a flourish
ing business in distributing colonial
products as middlemen. gathering them
from English, Dutch, French and Span
ish ports.
"In the German commercial high
schools at the present time" says the
bureau, emphasis is more than ever
being laid on the higher courses in
preparation for foreign trade. At the
commercial high school in Berlin for
the winter semester 1851 lis sepa-
rate courses Of instruction were Of
fered. These included general intro
ductory courses in business practice,
courses in administration, factory or
ganization, banking. transportation, in
surance, foreign policies, law, market
ing, chemistry and chemical technology,
physics and mechanical technology, ge-
ogrsphy, foreign languages, commercial
education and stenography.
Variety of Courses offered
"Of special interest are the courses
on the general science Of world trade,
specialized international business sci
ence trade of Middle and Western Eu-
rope, with a review of the trade in
transatlantic products, the science OF
international trade. bank organization
in England France and Germany;
in the belligerent countries, German
banking technique in war. railroad traf-
fc and ratemaking, insurance practice,
with special reference 10 international
relations; the economic Importance Of
the Germans abroad, commercial poll
cies. the problems Of international eco
nomic policies. German policies IN the
Orient. the political and economic or
OF nd rpf =
effect upon its operation, practical ex-
ercises in commerce and industry,
commercial law and international COM
merce, German cooperative organiza-
ton as a result Of the war, coal and
iron. the economic chemistry OF vege-
table and animal products, valuation,
treatment and utilization Of grain and
the establishment of grain elevators;
the study of machinery, visits 70 in
dustrial and other technical establish
ments. general geography, commercial
geography. the commercial geography
of France and Italy. elementary and
advanced courses Of practical exercises
in commercial geography, economic
conditions in Russia. Russian language,
course in French, Italian and Spanish;
elementary and advanced Turkish and
artistic advertising with lantern
Slides.
Berlin University's Work
at the same time, that is. in 1915,
IN the midst Of the war, the University
Of Berlin was offering no less than
ninety-four courses Of study especially
referred 10 as preparing for commerce
and industry These courses cover
commercial and maritime law. econ
onics, sociology, international law
government, history, geography and
languages. There were in the curri-
culum specialized courses IN world
trade. commercial geography a large
number Of courses covering Europe IN
detaiD. and language courses in Dan
ism. Swedish. English. French. Italian,
Spanish. Polish, Arabic, Russian and
Turkish
In its forecast OF the future the
bureau states that whatever may be
tbe outcome Of the war IN Europe Ger
many is going 20 make as active z
canvass for the eXpor. trade as It's re-
sources and financial condition at the
end OF the war will allow.
Writers in the German press the
bureau saws. AT this time acknowledge
that there is bound 70 be a prejudice
against German products in the mar
OTIS Of the countries and possessions
now hostile 20 Germany. With an as
sured commercial hostility in such vast
markets. u Is obvious that German eN-
rort trade must make The most OF the
few remaining neutral markets. In
the great neutral markets Of South and
Central America in which American
exporters arc more than ever directly
interested in Spain and in other coun-
triss not actively involved in hostil-
;ties German competition after the