South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-12-23
FOREIGN TRADE
TO HELP WIN WAR
Is Link Between StorehouSeS
OF America and European
Nations, Says Cutler.


the country during 1917 was the
entrance OF the United states into
the war" declares Burwell $. Cut
Ter in his first annual report as
chief OF the bureau OF foreign and
domestic commerce, of the depart
ment OF commerce
From the beginning OF the war
% the time OF our entrance into
IL" continues Mr.. cutler. 1.-THE bus
mess OF the American MANUFACTURED
and exporter was 20 make the most
OF new opportunities in the mar
kets Of nonbelligerent countries, to
take wise and needful steps in
preparation for trade after the war.
and 20 sell munitions and supplies
10 the belliserents.
These were legitimate activities.
They were vital 10 the industrial
life of the nation. But when we
entered the war. the perspective
changed. Trade with our war as
sociates assumed a new, a. differ
ent. much greater significance in
our eyes. IL became primarily a
means OF winning the war rather
than of winning profits. IL became
a link between the greatest store
house in the world and the Euro
pean nations with whom we had
cast our lot in the world struggle.
Attitude Has Changed.
our attitude toward the mar
kets In nom elligerent countries has
also changed as a matter of course
Trade with them must now be con-
Quoted with a careful and patriotic
Difference TO the successful prOsecu-
tion OK the war Preparations that
we make TO hold our place in those
markets and to expand our OppOr-
Junities must be made for the time
being with strict reference to poll
cies which govern our political re-
lations. However, it is confidently
expected that our trade with South
America. the far east, South Africa,
and with Australia will not be too
seriously interfered with and that
We may reap in the future the
benefits of having cultivated those
markets SO assiduously and Intel
Hgenuy during the past few years.
important as IL is that we hold
our own advantage in these and
other markets. we must not lose
sight of the fact that all such adj
tantascs are likely 10 disappear if
we do not come out Of the war
victoriously"
The report reviews in an eXhaus-
tive manner the foreign trade of the
country during the fiscal year end
cd June so. 1917. which it refers 10
as "Our greatest year in foreign
trade" The statistics are arranged
TO show the growth OF trade month
py month since 1918, so that the
effect of the war may be easily
traced
Unusual Activities Due to War.
Considerable space is given TO
the unusual activities of the bureau
during the year that resulted from
the entrance OF the United States
into the war, these activities in
Guiding the organization of a staff
for licensing exports, work in con-
uection with the tin plate conserva-
ton campaign. the collection of in
formation concerning foreign en-
barge legislation. the faciIitatiOn OF
imports Of raw materials from Rus
STA. the protection of American
trademarks in foreign countries,
and numerous others. all of which
were carried on by the regular
bureau staff, except the export Ii
cense work. for which volunteer
work was accepted from the out
side
Attention is called 10 the in
creased extent TO which foreign
markets have been studied through
the agency OF travelling special
agents. At the beginning of the
fiscal year there were Is such
agents in the employ OF the bureau.
while at the close of the year this
STAFF has been doubled The infor-
nation collected by these agents
helps American manufacturers to
extend their trade now and is also
aimed 10 help them prepare FOR
trade after the war
Before entering the bureau. Mr..
Cutler was president OF a large
manufacturing concern. a fact that
lends interest to the following es-
innate Of the bureaus service TO the
American manufacturer.
As practical manufacturer
and exporter. I entertained 20
mild exter. an instructive Skepti-
cism regarding the efficiency in or
canization and productive capacity
~ a government bureau as COM
pared with the highly organized
forces characteristic OF large private
enterprises. for this is a feeling all
700 common among business men.
! ind that a misapprehension OF the
yaIue OF the bureau is based on
tvpical ignorance or the bureaus
current activities please let me
emphasize the conviction that the
bureau OF foreign and domestic
commerce is genuinely prOduciug
agency. we'll organized, and calcu-
lated 10 assist our manufactures
and merchants IN ways emlnently
useful"