Evening star., 1919-05-11

tured articles
Speeding Up Trade from the United
Connections. ,ana. and to the
people where they are most needed
has an accelerator just the same as
any well regulated auto.
Recently a Latin American came
to the United States seeking to es-
tablish connections for trade In four
distinct lines of goods He told the
government officials that he expected
to spend four months in making those
connections. By the use OF the ac-
celerator' he made his connections
In six days and was on his way home
Through these connections during the
last six months more than $500. 900
worth Of American goods have been
sold in South America and the Latin
American reports that he could have
made 1t more than a million II he
could have got deliveries.
Only the other day Sorbei Mogi, a
big Japanese merchant, banker and
shipbuilder. came to this country to
get acquainted with business leaders
for a mutually advantageous trade
exchange. He WAS introduced to the
"accelerator" and was soon in con-
ference with Henry F'rick. the du Points
and other outstanding commercial lead
ers.
The "accelerator" Is responsible
during the last six months in secur-
-,-. ing orders amounting to
A Business s22,5oo,ooo on two items
>, alone-railroad locomo-
ootIeA' tives and rubbers.
is the district Offices of the bureau
Of foreign and domestic commerce.
There are seven OF these offices.
which are miniatures Of the bureau
in Washington. located at New York,
Boston, Chicago. St Louis. New Or
leans, San Francisco and Seattle.
There would be many others, only
Congress hasn't seen At to provide
the necessary support. 80 cooperative
branch offlces are doing similar work
with the chamber Of commerce in
Philadelphia, Cleveland. Cincinnati.
Los Angeles and Portland. Greg.
These offices handle the foreign
business as distE ,uting and accel-
Grating centers for the headquarters
bureau In Washington. They perform
three specially important functions:
First-While carrying on the gen.
eral work as is done in Washington,
these district Of
What the Bureaus flces expedite for
Accomplish. onment locally.
They distribute for the bureau research
on trade opportunities. In the simplest
possible language they tell the business
man where there Is trade to be had and
how to get it. They tell him of spe-
cifc trade opportunities. They tell
him where there is trade Of a definite
size in particular articles. at def
mite place. now ready to close.
. Second-They act as a board of me-
diation and conciliation for the settle
ment Of trade disagreements and the
adjustment Of complaints. at home
and abroad. There are two distinct
phases of this work: GAY Where the
foreign buyer thinks the American
firm Is at fault. and (b) where the
American concern thinks the foreign.
firm or agency is at fault. They get
both sides OF the controversy, and
have bean successful in upwards of
.95 per, cent of all cases brought to
their attention in adjusting the dis
agreements satisfactorily. Only the
other day the New York ONCE acted
as agency in transmitting a $4,000
draft to the American representative
in China in settlement on large
shipment Of silks. In mediating these
claims the district Offices verify the
details Of the complaints through the
American foreign officials. Not infre-
quently they find that some complaints
are deceitful, and made by trade trick
sters who are endeavoring to get a
discount to which they are not entitled.
It Is q tribute to American business
that generally it is found that the
American mer-
Troubles Due to chant is at
Misunderstanding. x.rv - T. few ui ,n .
stances. The complaints have mostly
grown out Of Misunderstanding as to
methods Of packing and shipping goods.
On account Of improved methods
in these respects and an earnest
effort by American manufacturers and
exporters to please tho foreign buy
ers a great improvement has been
noted and the number Of complaints
is decreasing. Frequently tho middle
man IL at fault because he has been
interested only in getting the ono or
der through and has not given the
close attention he should to packing,
shipping and to following up tho busI-
ness.
Third-The district offices are per-
very special value in putting foreign
buyers who visit the United States in
direct, personal touch with those
whose goods they want. The district
Offices know the men in each locality
who produce the goods and have a
pretty accurate idea Of Just what busi-
ness they can handle. So. much time for
would probably be wasted Is saved
He gets in touch with the reliable
manufacturer and his agent.
..-.-- II
Considerable has been written from
the economist viewpoint about foreign
trade and the activities Of
A Tvne the United States govern
~. ment to help the American
o"eo' business man get as much Of
the worlds trade as he Is able to
handle. Here is q practical demon