The Colorado statesman., 1918-01-26
OUR BIGGEST YEAR
IN foreign trade
European Conflict Responsible for
Americas Unprecedented
Business.
ASSUMES A NEW PHASE
Uncle Sans Participation In Hostill-
ties Creates Slogan of win
the War Rather Than Win
Profits"

1.-THE event of transcending impor-
tance to the foreign trade of the coun-
try during 1917 was the entrance of
the United States into the war;" de-
clares Burwell S. Cutler in his first an
nual report as chief of the bureau of
foreign and domestic commerce of
Uncle Sans department of commerce.
From the beginning of the war to
the time of our entrance into it," con-
tinues Mr.. Cutler, "the business of the
American manufacturer and exporter
was to make the most of new oppor-
tunltles in the markets of nonbellig-
erent countries, to take wise and need
full steps in preparation for trade after
the war, and to sell munitions and sup
plies to the belligerents.
"These were legitimate activities.
They were vital to the industrial life
of the nation. But when we entered
the war, the perspective changed.
Trade with our war associates assumed
a new, different, much greater sig
nificance in our eyes. 1t became pri-
marily a means of winning the war
rather than of winning profits. 1t be-
came a link between the greatest store
house in the world and the European
nations with whom we had cast our lot
in the world struggle.
Prospects for Future.
"Our attitude toward the markets in
acknowledgement countries has also
changed as a matter of course. Trade
with them must now be conducted with
a careful and patriotic Difference to
the successful prosecution of the war.
Preparations that we make to hold our
place in those markets and to expand
our opportunities must be made for
the time being with strict reference to
policies which govern our political re-
lations. However, it is confidently ex-
pected that our trade with South
America, the far East, South Africa,
and with Australia will not be too Sc
riously interfered with and that we
may reap in the future the benefits OF
having cultivated those markets so as
siduously and intelligently during the
past few years.
Important as it is that we hold our
own advantage in these and other mar
llets we must not lose sight of the fact
that all such advantages are likely to
disappear if we do not come out of the
war VIGOROUSLY"
Greatest Foreign Trade.
The report reviews in an exhaustive
manner the foreign trade of the coun-
try during the fiscal year ended June
80, 1917, which it refers to as "our
greatest year in foreign trade" The
statistics are arranged to show the
growth of trade month by month since
1913, so that the effect of the war may
be easily traced.
Unusual activities Of the bureau
during the year resulted from the en-
trance of the United States into the
war, these activities including the or
ganization of a staff for licensing ex-
ports, work in connection with the tin
plate conservation campaign, the col
lection of information concerning for
eign embargo legislation, the facilita-
ton of exports of raw materials from
Russia, 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 license work, for
which volunteer work was accepted
from the outside.
At the beginning of the fiscal year
there were 13 travelling special agents
in the employ of the bureau, while at
the close of the year this staff had
been doubled. The information col
lected by these agents helps American
manufacturers to extend their trade
now and is also aimed to help them
prepare for trade after the war.