New-York tribune., 1919-06-02
Americans Leading
Britons in Trade.
SaysLondon Writer
Lloyd George Governments
Industrial and CONNER.
cial Policies Scored by
c. B. Barham, of ''Clobe"
Nev York Tribune
Foyet0n Press Bureau

The industrial and commercial poll
c.es of the Lloyd George government
are scored in "The London Globe" by
c. Basil Barham, British writer on
industrial subjects. He points out
that, thanks to the indecision and
muddle in the government offices,
American manufacturers have got a
-ood start ahead of their British com
retitors. He says:
1T is beyond question that the sign
ing of the armistce gave British In
cent opening for business as has never
before been offered. The opportunity
was there, goods of every possible kind
we're in demand, British commodities
we're eagerly sought for; German
trade and Germanys overseas markets
lay ready to our hand.
THE markets of the world lay open
20 British enterprise and-strikes and
labor disputes sprang up in legion,
the government began to display a
'jtiable indecision as to imports, ex-
ports and trade matters generally;
newspapers began to publish reams of
articles on reconstruction, and there
cemed general attempt to persuade
British manufacturers that they need
ot trouble about the trade and bust
'ess Of to-day. but that it was their
duty to begin to make plans for pro-
icing some time in the future on
ale to be afterward decided upon.
American Expansion
And meanwhile America has settled
her labor disputes and is producing
vast scale.
"Her exports have risen as compared
ith 1913 by about $50 per cent, and
manufactured goods is building up
..A almost unassailable position in the
i'ar East. in Latin America, and even
III Europe itself. Her trade in steel
ngcts. billets and blooms has increased
.om a value of 100000 in 1913 to
3O,0O0,O00 in 1918. Sheets and plates
re now being exported to tho extent
about five times their pre-war
alue, and she is sending out more
Aan double the value of ordinary ma
ninery, excluding electrical and auto
ioble goods that she sent out in nor
0al times. Her exports of electrical
.achnery and apparatus have in
ceased from about five and half
rllions to about twelve millions
-terling; she is selling abroad about
-ouble the quantity of dynamos and
.Aotors, and her sales of insulated
ire and general electrical accessories
ave increased by about 500 per cent.
Ter sale of manufactured rubber
oods has increased nearly four-fold,
nd during 1917 she made over 1,SOO,-
70 motor cars OF all kinds. Metal
rorking machinery was exported last
ear to an amount equal to an in
case Of over 230 per cent above pre-
IT records, and metal fi!ament lamps,
give YET another example, are now
ng sold by her to the extent Of H.
$4,000 per annum, as compared with
.es Of 100000 in 1919.
American Textiles
1T Is not alone in the metal and al
cd manufactures that she is showing
uch amazing expansion. Before the
ar her export cotton manufact-
res valued at approximately s11.-
10000. Last year they reached
value of $4,000 900, of which about
100000 were piece goods. Her ex-
ports OF manufactured woollens in
1reased from just over 100000 in 1918
20 e4,O00000 in 1918, and while before
he war American mills made woollen
c!oths and dress goods solely for the
home market, and produced none for
Export, in 1918 we'll over 100000
ards we're shipped to and sold in
overseas markets. Leather and leather
manufactures for the export trade
show an increase of over so per
cent, and the export trade in boots
and shoes shows corresponding in
crease. While it is true that some ap-
preciable proportion of the increases
mentioned is due to the enhanced
prices ruling, it is clear that the value
o. Americas export trade has increased
tremendously, and unless British man
ufacturers wish to be left hopelessly
behind in the race for the worlds mar
hets it is evident that they will have
to be up and doing, producing at the
present moment for the markets that
are waiting rather than wasting time
in celebrating as to how they are to