The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-02-10
FOREIGN TRADES PART
IN WINNING THE WAR

"The event OF transcending i'm
portance to the foreign trade of the
country during 1917 was the entrance
of the United States into the war"
declares Burwell S. Cutler in his first
annual report as chief of the bureau
OF foreign and domestic commerce,
OF the department of commerce.
From the beginning of the war
to the time of our entrance into it,"
continues Mr. Cutler, the business
OF the American manufacturer and
exporter was to make the most of
new opportunities in the markets of
non beiligerent countries. to take wise
and needful steps in preparation for
trade after the war, and to sell m mi
lions and supplies to the beliigerents.
These were legitimate activities
They were vital to the Industrial life
Of the nation. But when Ne entered
the war. the perspective changed.
Trade with our war associate assum-
cd a new, a different. q much greater
significance in our eyes. It became
primarily a means Of winning the
wer rather than of winning fronts
It became a link between the greatest
storehouse in the world and the Fu-
ropean nations with whom we had
CAST our lot IN LIe WORM ElFu8EIes
"Our attitude toward the markets
in non -belligerent countries has al
go changed as a. matter Of course.
Trade with them must now he con-
duced with a careful and patriotic
Difference to the successful prosecu-
ton Of the war. Preparations that
we make to hold our place In those
markets and to expand our oppor-
tunities must be made for the time
being with strict reference TO policies
which govern our political relations
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 thai we may reap
In the future the benefits ~ having
cultivated these markets so asstdr-
ously and intelliRently during the
past few years.
Important as II is that va hold
our own advantage In these and other
markets, we must not lose sight of
the fact that all such advantages arc
likely to disa ppear If We do not come
out Of the war VIGOROUSLY"
The report reviews in an eXhaus-
tive manner the foreign trade or the
country during the fiscal year ended
June 80. 1917, which Il refers to
as "our greatest year in foreign
trade" The statistics are arranged
TO show the growth OF trade month
by month since 1918, so that the ef-
feet OF the war may be easily traced
Considerable space fs given 10 the
unusual activities OF the burSau dur
ing the wear that resulted fro&1 the
entrance OF the United states iuta The
war. these activities including the or
.zto IfrET 81 p b.
ports work I'm connection with the
tin plate conservation campaign, the
collection OF information concerning
foreign embargo legislation, the factl-
itat!on Of imports OF raw materials
from Russia, the protection Of Amer
lean trade marks in foreign countries.
ard numerous others all OF which
were carried or by the regular bureau
staff. exeept the export license work,
FOR which volunteer work was ac-
cepted from the outside
Attention is called 70 the increased
extent TO which foreign markets
have been studied through the agency
OF travelling special agents At the
beginning OF the fiscal year there
were thirteen such agents in the en-
plcy Of the bureau. while 1T the close
Of the year this stan had been dou-
blss The information collected by
these agents helps American manu-
facturers TO extend their trad now
and IL also aimed 20 help them pre-
pare for trade after tile war
Before entering the bureau, Mr.
Cutler was president OF n large manu~
featuring concern, a fact that lends
interest to the following estimate OF
the bureaus service to the American
manufacturer.
las a practical manufact8rer and
exporter. | entertained 70 a mild ex-
tent an instructive ekepticisn> regard
ing the efficiency in organization and
productive capacity of a government
bureau as compared with the highly
organized forces characteristics Of
large private enterprises, for this Is
= feeling all too common among busl-
ness men. I find that a misapprehen-
sion OF the value OF the bureau is
based on a typical ignorance Of the
bureaus current activities. Please
let me emphasize the conviction that
the bureau Of foreign and dom estic
commerce is q genuinely producing
agency. well organized and calcu-
lated TO assist our manufacturers and
merchants in ways emiuently use
full"