The Washington herald., 1919-03-27
U. S. IN FIGHT
FOR MASTERY
WORLD TRADE
Organization Of Committee
On Foreign Trade First
Important Step.
PLAN POSITIVE ACTION
Movement to Anticipate
Great Britain in South
American Business.

Americas fight for mastery of the
world trade is on.
Full power of the government will
be put squarely behind the export
ers seeking to develop foreign mar
kets for this country's goods.
The administration has detcrmin-
ed upon a policy of positive action
to checkmate the inroads Of the
British embargo and to meet any
further steps by competing nations
to hamper the commercial expansion
'of the United States.
First oficial information as to the
new foreign trade plans came in q
statement from the State Depart
ment. Acting Secretary William
Phillips announced the organization
of a committee on foreign trade"
This committee is a co-ordinating
body embracing representatives Of
all governmental offices which deal
in any way with foreign trade mat
ters.
The creation of an organization to
make Made in America" a familiar
trade label in every nook and corner
of the universe was authorized in an
order formally signed by President
Wilson on February IS. during his
recent stay in Washington.
Duty of Committee.
The duty OF the Committee on For
eign Trade" said Acting Secretary
Phillips, lis to formulate conclusions,
and to harmonize and coordinate all
governmental activities in any way
connected with foreign trade. thus
safely guarding the economic future
of the nation.
The committee will provide ad-
yisory and supervisory machinery OF
government executives for unifying
the work of further extending and
developing the business interests of the
United States in foreign channels"
The first preliminary meeting of the
committee was held last Thursday in
the Office of Acting Secretary of State
Polk. The following representatives
OF various governmental agencies par
ticipated.
Omcinls in Conference.
Department OF State, Acting Sec
retary Polk, AR. Lay. Mr.. Frost
Department of Commerce. Acting
Secretary Sweet, Mr.. Cutler.
Shipping Board. Chairman Hurley.
Mr.. Stevens.
Treasury Department. Acting Sec
retary Rowe. Mr.. MCGUIRE.
Agricultural Department. Mr.. Brand,
Mr.. Moomaw.
Labor Department. Acting Secretary
Post
Navy Department, Admiral Peoples.
War Department, Col Dunn.
War Trade Board. Mr.. DeLaittre.
Federal Trade Commission, Com
missioner Fort.
Tariff Commission, Commissioner
Culbertson.
Railroad Administration, Mr.. Spens.
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Acting Chairman Wooley.
Postoffice Department. Mr.. Maddox.
Julius G. Lay. acting foreign trade
adviser of the State Department, was
made chairman of a subcommittee on
organization.
Anticipate Great Britain.
Great Britain launched her cam
paign to regain control of the world
trade long before the United States
was prepared to embark upon a def
mite program.
Importation Of raw materials from
America was permitted and encour-
aged. The doors were shut, however
against our manufactured goods.
Particular attention will be paid to
the Latin-American countries. Ger
many, which formerly carried on a
tremendous trade with Argentina and
Brazil, is out of the competition for
this business as a result of the war.
The United States plans to assume
Germany's former position in this re-
spect before England has an oppor-
tunity to make a determined bid for
the trade.
Committee on the Job.
Mr.. Phillips said:
Neither the committee as a
whole. nor its subcommittees, will
deal with specific cases OF foreign
trade interests except as they may
be brought to it's attention by the
different government offices now
handling these matters.
I'm other words, the American
business public will not have di-
rect communication with the COM
mittee, but will continue to deal as
heretofore with the various pre-
existing agencies of the govern
ment."
But the Committee on Foreign
Trade will stand in the background.
ready to WELD the full power OF
the government when occasion de-
mands.