South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-07-04
FOREIGN TRADE is
GROWING RAP IDLY
Increase in "Non-War" Pros
perity Articles Shown by
Official Figures.

CONTRARY to general impression.
the most significant increase in for
eign trade achieved by the United
states since the beginning OF the
war IS in articles for civil use which
would be exported war or no war.
This fact. backed up by impartial
government statistics refutes the
propaganda 10 the effect that the
United States has been getting rich
solely from the production of ma
rerisls and munitions or war
The increase in the exports from
the United States rf oreadstuHs.
meat and GARY products. cotton and
tts manufacture. agricultural. cleo
trical and other machinery rails.
ain plate. structural and other man
elfactures Of iron and steel leather.
lmineral and vegetable oils. tobacco.
i1um Der and other manufactures or
wood. and other agricultural mining
and factory products which this ma
ton sells abroad during normal
times. was one-half the increase In
sour total exports. IT. was more than
the combined increases In exports OF
actual and secondary war supplies
This increase in the exports Of
tarticles for civil use" declares the
.chief or the bureau Of foreign and
domestic commerce els general
Throughout the various grand divi-
tsions OF the world. and that IS the
really significant fact shown hy the
statistics Our increased trade with
Europe has been caused 10 "A large
extent by the war and after peace
Is established may eventually drop
hack 10 its usual level It is scarce
,ly likely. however that this drop
fVvfl take place Immediately after
1.-THE war ceases. In fact there are
fstrong reasons for the belief that
feXports VIII continue 70 be active
for some years after the war L
will require some time 10 reesta b.
lish the normal development Of new
enterprise and productive improve
iments after several years neglect
and destruction. and this country
may well expect. 10 be called upon
10 supply raw materials as well as
manufactured products toward this
upbLilding"
Interesting Statistics
There Is a general belief amount
ing almost 10 a propaganda that
the business prosperity OF the
United states today is purely war
prosperity. that is To say. that it is
based on the manufacture and sale
OF firearms. explosives and muni-
tions What are the facts2
Of
ammunition and firearms increased
10 a total value OF SfS1. 100000. be-
ing an increase Of $4,000. 900 from
before the war.
From 1914 10 1916 our exports OF.
what are called secondary war sup
plies-leather. cars. aeroplanes and
parts. automobiles. animals lead
wool. etc-increased TO total
value OF 1851. 600. 600. being an in
crease OF $500 100000 from before
the war
From 1914 70 1916 our exports of
articles which have no direct rela-
tion 70 belligerent activities in
creased 10 &317O.0OO O0O being an
increase OF S995, goo, 600 from before
the war
ports OF non-war articles was great
or than the sum of the increased
exports OF both war articles and sec
-Ondary war supplies.
The foreign trade Of the United
sStates. therefore has been built mp
10 size unprecedented in history.
The declaration OF peace and the
resumption by the belHgerents of
normal activities will undoubtedly
cut down this nsure TO certain
extent But It is 10 be remembered
Ghat our exports have grown out
side as well as inside the war zone.
fFor example.
During 1916 as compared with
1sl4 the last normal year before
rhe war. our exports TO Canada in
Acreased by $l22.O00,0Oo. or s. per
cent our exports 20 the West In
sdies Central America and Mexico
increased by $50 000. 600. or "A per
cent 10 Asia by S165. 000 600. or las
per cent. % Australia and Oceania
10y S16.000.oO0. or SIS per cent In
addition the tropical and sab
tropical countries produce and eN-
port principally foodstuns and raw
hnaterial or which the United States
lis buying an increasing share and is
Eending in return our finished man
aIfactured products
Industry Stabilized
What all this means according
20 trade and commerce experts 81
r1he government. is the Stabiliziug
of American industry. with aIl that
phat implies for prosperity and good
fWsges- II Is pointed ont that for
feign trade affords an outlet for the
same kinds OF goods as are made
dor domestic consumption I'm the
case OF agricultural machinery. for
example. n there were no export
business and II a single wear i'm the
United States happened Go be bad
one. the outlet for this product
would De seriously curtailed con-
seQuently there would be shutdown~
% factories and unemployment But
- there were--as there is on an
ever-inc reasing sCale-an outlet for
farm machinery in Canada south
h-AmeriCa and So son. TO would De