Evening star., 1920-03-21
FEDERAL AID IN FOREIGN TRADE

| to give them information bearing on
their trade problems.
On the basis of the information OBJ
tained In these ways, the foreign field
workers send cablegrams and letters
announcing events of moment to
American trading interests, and they
describe particular situations in re-
ports which are frequently developed
into exhaustive monographs.
The American resident agents assist
American commercial travellers by
, giving them information, explaining
the trade customs of the country, ex-
pedftfng the execution of trade papers,
and putting them in touch with desir-
able foreign firms; they advise Ameri-
cans perplexed with problems -natur-
ally arising in every foreign field, and
they protect the interests of American
trade and of individual firms and trad
ers against discrimination and other
disadvantages to which foreign en-
Tho foreign offices Of the resident
agents, by reason Of the great guam
tity Of data there received,
Clearing have become clearing
u.,.. houses for trade informa-
0ooses. tion, serving both Ameri-
can exporters and foreign importers
In the interests Of American trade.
While each Of these trade clearing
houses abroad is actively dispensing
Information and otherwise promoting
trade in Its own territory, a CORE.
spending service is rendered to the
United States at large by those bu-
reaus here in Washington whose func-
tion Is the promotion of this country's
foreign commerce and which serve in
larger way as clearing houses of
trade information. advice and assist
ance.
As each foreign Office is In close
touch with its own field, so are the
bureaus here In the National Capital
constantly in communication with the
several hundred foreign posts. Cable
9lspatches. letters. newspapers. bull
letfns. reports. statistical statements.
year books. directories, photoRranhs
and other trade exhibits pour into the
the world.
Resident agents from time to Tina
return to Washington for brief stays
ana on these occasions they fmpart
much information which is fmprac-
ticable to report in writing. Trayelinp
agents return to Washington for the
preparation of their reports in con-
sultation with those in charge, Like
wise. both American and foreign trad.
ers in calling at the Washington bu
tribute considerable information to
the general fund of commercial in
tellfgence.
+
These central clearing houses of
foreign trade information are several
in number. being
Distribution Of maintained in va
T.s.A. rious departments
"o'ao"' Of the government,
the bureau OF efficiency Investigators
found. Similarly. the field forces en-
gagged in foreign trade activities are
directed by several departments.
The information collected from all
quarters OF the globe and distributed
throughout the United States to
American trade interests consists of
statistical data and commercial in
eral descriptions of foreign regions
to the details of trade procedure in
particular countries.
Much intelligence given out Is of
technical character and scope. This
takes the form of expert advice and
assistance for the guidance Of man
ufacturers, traders and bankers.
The bureau Of efficiency finds little
real duplication by the five principal
establishments engaged in foreign
trade promotion, because each is ap-
preaching the problem from a diff
ferent standpoint: each is employing
q differently qualified representative
in the field, and each Is distributing
the resulting Intelligence in a differ
emit form and to q different clientele
Of interests. The general goal striven
for IL the same. the efficiency report
points out, but the particular phases
Of the work differ sufficiently to re-
fute tho charge OF duplication.
WILL. p KENNEnY