The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-01-13

as examples of how Governments help
trade. Ia England they point to us and
|" Germany as examples OF how Govern
ment helps trade. In Germany they hav
ointed to England and to the United
States as examples of how Government
helps trade, SO II goes
When | went to Germany to take
part in an Investigation of the German
pottery Industry, went somewhat with
the Idea tina : was going to ind gov
erhn!ent subs. dies to trade, which, with
starvation wages. had been proclaimed
before our Ways and Means Committee
as the reason Tor German success in
foreign trade. J never found a manu-
facturer there who would concedc that
tie Government was helping him at all
instead he was usually growing at the
burden OF Government taxation and in
reference.
Private Planning Chief Factor.
I'm British countries In the course Of
the liquidation OF German concerns
there has been direct EFFORT to trace
the extent OF Government assistance.
To date | have seen nothing as a result
OF the work OF liquidators that has been
at all convincing evidence that German
success abroad was due TO direct Gov
eminent help.
I'm fact, one of the British official
liquida,ors at Hongkong. who made a
deliberate attempt to ferret out evidence
Q. Government participation In German
trade In that colony, admitted frankly
that the hooks and papers Of the liqui-
dated concerns gave reason rather for
the contrary conclusion. We do no:
know all the facts about the German
methods of commercial penetration, ana
possibly "" never shall
We do know that The Goyetumau,
u Germany has shown "a NrrN SyWpa-
thetic attitude toward the biz >ommer-
cial interests. has encouraged them In
many ways. has given material cncour-
agement 10 German shipping and has
worked with pretty definite Govern
mental commercial policies. all in the
interest Of Increased national efficiency
Admit all this, however, and yet on the
whole We have got TO admit further that
German commercial and manufacturing
success has been chiefly attributable &c
energy and cHretul planning In private
organization.
Must Depend on Themselves.
1T will be bad thing for the Ameri
can manufacturer to fool himself intC
AFFECT dcl>~ndence on Government sup
pcEl ia Stlttis anu HOlusIlR MS DuslnesS
The American manufacturer in the Ions
run. Just like the manufacturer IL an!
other country. must organize better. pro
duce better ana sell better than his com
petitors.
Our Government can help q manufac
turer in a variety Of ways. / have to
night pointed oui some OF the ways II
which the Bureau OF Foreign and DO
mestic Commerce can render assistance
! | think that in the field covered by thu
work OF the bureau our Government ha
done as much and as effective work a
any foreign Government.
/ Times and circumstance have beei
greatly changed az a result OF the war
/ Other Governments are reorganIzing ant
preparing to spend large sums in promot
ing their interests IN after war trade
From al We know Of the past and prescn
attitude Of our own Government I shout
! say that we have no reason TO believe tina
/ our Government will not expand its ow'
| service. give II variety and new lines o
activity. Just as much as the nattonl
interests require. We must not look {
the Government to do the business 70
US. but at the same time we cannot AZ
ford to ignore or underestimate the valu
Of what the Government is prepared t
do and IL actually doing"