South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-04-06


American newspapers, a British
financier advised the British mer-
chant that Britains' place as a lead
er in the commercial trade fields and
therefore a leader in all worlds af-
fairs would be endangered unless
British enterprise and commercial
initiative invaded the fields OF Africa
and India and China and Japan and
South America. America he advised.
would take the place occupied by
Britain.
The new trade map will divide the
countries according 10 the races, &C
cording TO the customs, the Ian
guages, the business demands and
the opportunities TO serve. Men
then will be trained 10 specialize in
assisting American business in one
trade area. There will be no effort
10 train a man to do business with
the world. 1t was a false hope that
he could ever be trained to do this
efficiently. The man who is sent to
South America must develop that
field only and he will not be bother
ed with study Of trade policies in
India and China.
The products which are related
will be grouped for the gathering of
statistics. Statistics are the text
books for foreign traders. The
statistics TO be gathered under the
Redfeld system must present real
information They must show the
most advantageous port OF ship
ment. they must give definite infor-
nation as TO methods OF packing and
such details OF manufacture as will
appeal to peculiar foreign states and
they must show accurately what
competition will be encountered by
the American exporters.
Old System Worn Out.
Recently, a prominent packer OF
Indiana wanted statistics from va
rious countries. IL required diligent
search to get these statistics and
when they were obtained they were
Of no value. They gave no informa-
ton to the Indiana packer. He
sought information as to pounds of
his product imported by foreign
countries. The statistics gathered in
most instances, related to cases and
there was no possibility of compar-
ing figures with foreign imports.
They were gathered under the old
system when American business men
were told to cultivate only an Amer
lean market
The Redfield idea is 10 build upon
good will and confidence. The tariff
commission recommendations will be
to build foreign trade upon good will
and confidence. Both plans are in
the utmost harmony. Redfield's
recommendations will be that once
an efficient machinery Of foreign
trade assistants is built up, the
American merchant needs only 10
convince foreign buyer that he can
do better in the American market
and America will get the business.
He does not fear the ability OF for
eign producers to outbusiness the
American business man.
The tariff commission will urge
that we abandon the most favored"
nation policy of the past and that our
trade be governed only by the policy
of eliminating DETERMINATIONS elm
mating the possibility of i'll feeling
and future trouble. Discriminating
tariffs would be applied only where
American business was unjustly
treated.
The Redfield idea is TO utilize ev-
cry advantage Of America. The gulf
ports and the Pacific ports will be
given every opportunity to grow and
there will be no favoritism such as
has been shown eastern ports and
especially the New York ports Un-
der former trade policies. The pro-
Queer Of the middle west will not
find himself at the disadvantage Of
not being located near the eastern
shipping board.
If this administration has its way,
efficiency is to be demanded OF the
American merchant and efficiency
only.