The Washington herald., 1919-02-18
FOREIGN TRADE
INCREASE seen
Holland Says Steel Mag
nate and Merchant
Agree on Points.

James A. Farrell, president Of the
United States Steeel Corporation, and
George A. CASTOR, an international
merchant OF great achievement, agree
on the necessity. II prosperity is to be
maintained and increased IN the
United States. of taking advantage OF
present-day opportunities for increas'
ing foreign trade. President Farrell
looks at the opportunity from one
point of view. Mr.. CASTOR regards II
from a different viewpoint, but there is
no disagreement between them re-
specting the fact that a wonderful
opportunity Is opening to the United
States for the Increase of our inter
national trade.
Upon another point they are also in
agreement, for they believe that q
state Of mind that resembles pesst-
nism seems to prevail in the United
States, meaning apparently that this
is reflected in the action OF the securi-
ties market. On the other hand, they
do not differ in their view Of the de-
mand which other nations Of the world
are sure TO make upon the United
States for many kinds of commodl-
ties, not only food, but manufactured
products.
dAAtll HAS SOllltNAlllG-
been spoken Of as the abIest expert
authority in tho United States upon
subjects involved in creating new
markets. especially for the products
OF our iron and steel Industries. &c II
, was who. soon after the organization
of the United States Steel Corporation,
was authorized to organize and then
to operate a foreign sales department.
He undertook this work with enthusi-
asm, beginning upon the ground floor,
so to speak. His organization when
perfected reached to many parts of
the world. 1t involved something like
universal training for the representa-
tives OF this department, for they were
expected TO learn a great deal about
racial distinctions, to master the Ian
guage Of the people with whom ley
were to deal. and the business meth
DDS in various parts of the world, the
geography of those countries where
markets might D.. fOrm>i the charaC-
ter OF the portl and als> to be well
informed respecting pOlltiNll condi-
tions, which might in one way or an
other affect foreign trade.
These representatives after proper
Qualification established themselves in
various markets. especially in South
America, Australia and the Far East.
Within two or three years their sue
cess was demonstrated
1t was possible to call attention to a
rapidly increasing export Of American
iron and steel products. until at last,
a few years after Mr.. Farrell organ
lied this foreign sales department the
authorities at Washington were aule
to report that iron and steel products
OF the money value Of a little over a
hundred millions were sold in one
year il foreign markets. \ wise and
shrCwd man Of business Of England
was one Of the first TO realize what
, this increase in the export of Ameri-
6ran manufactured products meant
After a sOjouTn in the United states
L9f soma months he returned to Lon
Non and vcnturcd to say 10 his bUsi-
ness associate there that the United
States was rapidly TIvaIinC Great
F:ritafn in tnn amount and money
vaIuo Of her exports Of manufactured
products.
In April. President Farrell. who is
chairman Of the Foreign Trade COun-
ell OF the United States. il to meet
and at the time when the contem-
plated Fifth liberty LO;n is under
yvay-representatives of almost all the
Industries in the United States and is
to have associated with him ten or
twelve men who are members of the
consular service under the department
of State who have been investigating
conditions not only in Europe but also
in the Far East. This is to be the
sixth annual convention of the For
eign Trade Council and is to be held
at Chicago. The organization was
perfected before the war in Europe
began. 1t was somewhat affected dur
ing the four years of the war, but now
that peace is assured it undertakes to
stimulate the leaders and the indus
tries Of the United States so that they
will take advantage of the opportu-
mites which the needs of the foreign
nations now created. Mr.. Farrell as
serts that a very great foreign trade
may be ours, provided our men of in
dustry and commerce act with energy
upon lines of sound policy. "A great
carrying trade under our own mas
may be ours if we make it possible tC
hperate our new ships in competition
with other nations
what 6. A. CASTOR Says.
II so happened that on the day wher
Mr.. Farrell spoke of the great oppor'
tunities for foreign trade which are
opening, George a. CASTOR also spoke
confirming all that President Farrell
said about these opportunities, but ap-
parently differing with him in certain
views. Mr.. Castor IS one OF thost
who have achieved greatly, especially
since the war began. His name is not
as familiar to the public as it shoulc
be in view of all that he has accom-
plished.
1t is only a few years since he or
sanized a firm OF international mer
chants. He had all the enthusiasm OF
youth. for he was under 20 wheT
he made this venture. How successful
il was in war days will be understood
IL Il be stated that although ]. 2.
Morgan and Company as purchasing
agents in the United States for Great
Britain transacted a business that
amounted to hundreds of millions, Mr..
Gaston's house stood second in this
respect, having been chosen as pur-
j chasing agent for several OF the allies
He Is as much a master OF the science
| OF international trade as is President
Farrell, although the training of each
was somewhat different from that OF
the other.
Mr.. CASTOR says that a commerce,
stupendous in amount, is about to De
established, certainly will be estab-
lished as soon as absolute peace is Sc
cured by treaty. if the United States
takes advantage of the opportunity
His opinion, however, is that ouI
greater commerce will not be with
Great Britain or with France. We can