The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-12

New York, September 17.-(Special) By significant, although a merely chance coincidence announcement was made upon the same day of a large fall ing off in our foreign trade in July, and also of the purpose of the American In- ternational corporation to undertake world reaching export trade In steel manufactured in the United States
 The Washington authorities give no explanation for the decrease in our in- ternational trade in July, merely stating that that trade was the lowest in money value since February, 1916 In July the exports were of the money value of $S74, ,oo0,0O0, which is almost exactly $2O0,- oo0,0Oo less than the money value of the exports in June and about $60, GOO less than the money value of the exports in July of last year On the other hand, imports were considerably decreased. Nevertheless, the total exports for the F months that ended on August were SC, ,221 GOO 900, and at no other time in our history have exports of that money value gone from the United States.
 The suggestion has been made that this falling off in exports in July may be due to the activities of the German submarines That, however, is not be- lieved to be the real reason. Probably vast amount of comomdities. especially food, were not ready for export In July, but will be put upon vessels between this time and the end of the year. Those who are best informed believe that the aggregate of our foreign trade for the 12 months of this calendar year will be found greater in money value than that of the preceding year.
 The American International corpora tion will as soon as possible enter the markets of the world that are now avail able for the purpose of selling American steel commodities. As there Is only one corporation in the United States which able share of the markets of the world for steel the presumption Is that the American International corporation will enter into earnest competitor with that corporation which, is the United States Steel corporation. Competition of that kind, however, will not be dreaded by the Steel company nor will there be any unreasonable competition.
 One of the reasons given for the be- lief that while competition between these two corporations may be carried on ear nestly but fairly is found in the fact that the international corporation in tends to confine it's export business in the steel commodities which it will of fer in other markets to those which are produced by the independent steel com panies whereas the United States Steel corporation will confine itself chiefly to commodities manufactured by the va rious subsidiaries of that corporation. Besides, the two corporations strongly believe in fair and reasonable competi- ton.
 A year or two after the United States Steel corporation was organized, James A. Farrell, now president of that corpor- ation. began preparation for command of the foreign markets for the products of the corporation. MT. Farrell built up a remarkable organization. It covered not only the science of selling and the train- ing of expert salesmen, but also various PO%Ae&~t~A acteristics of the other nations. It was perhaps the best training school in the United States for any who desired to be Instructed in diplomacy, in world politics, in geography and in trade. MT. Farrell met with strenuous competition, princi- pally from the German manufacturers. He found that the German exporters were guided by somewhat different meth- ods from those which were advocated by the United States Steel corporation--that is to say, the Germans adopted any means fair or unfair to secure trade, whereas the methods of the Steel corpor- ation selling agency were in perfect ac- cord with the highest business integrity.
 Notwithstanding this competition and the almost equally strenuous competi- tion brought to bear by English export CTS, the Steel corporations selling agency gradually commanded good share of the foreign trade. At last it was possible to report that the money value in single year of the exports of iron and steel commodities, including those which were the product of the International Harves- ter company were somewhat in excess
 of s200,Ooo0O0.
 The American International corpora- tion purposes developing very strong selling department. which is to be occu- pied exclusively in seeking markets in other lands for the products of the inde- pendent American steel manufacturers. Charles M. Shcwab and President Far rell are of one opinion respetcing the opportunities for export trade in steel and iron commodities. They both believe that there is to be business enough for all and that the demands for American steel after the war is ended will be SO great as to cause the various manufac-