The star-progress. (Opelousas, La.) 1917-1921, 1920-12-15

vice as to how the goods should be
hacked for export to Argentina and
what railroad and shipping documents
were needed. and above al how he
twas to get his money. The interior
bank was able, through cooperation
with its banking correspondent IN
New York, to obtain a quick report
ION the credit standing of the Argentine
customer. which showed that he was
a perfectly good credit risk. Informa-
ton was also supplied as to packing
and shipping, and the interior bank
/ was able to aid its customer in finan-
] cling the transaction.
Creating Local Interest
There are a number of ways in
which the interior banker can foster
interest in foreign trade in his COM
munitv. One of the most effective
methods is to obtain the support of the
leading local newspaper. The editors
of the progressive newspapers OF our
inland cities fully recognize the I'M
tportauce of foreign trade, but are fre-
ioueutIy at loss to obtain a sufti-
Client amount Of material to run reg
ynlar foreign trade department. Ar
rlngements can be made for supplying
newspaper features, as well as con
t'nuous supply of foreign trade news.
1.-THE local public library is another in
Is tuition which can be utilized most
Effectively in foreign trade promotion
u should be supplied with a good selec-
ttion of books on foreign commerce
If3reign countries, and foreign travel
commercial geography, international
l,w, tropical anG> subtropical and 9th.
Ter imported COMMODITIES, aliases
ibooks on shipping, On marine insul
janice and foreign exchange, interna
It email banking, and ports and harborg
1.-THE local school and the YIN. c. A
can do similar work.
/ Most important of all, howeveI is
the proper organization Of the business
n en- Of the community. The In nbel
q commerce If it has not air ~ tht
Sd should form a foreign trade com
mittee to make a survey of the fore
ign trade activities of its me n )ers
j should maintain an ip- 0,iate list o.
a i members doing an exporting or i'm
orting business, with full ietails D
tie commodities handled and of tbs
f1reign countries in which the mem
bers are interested. A foreign trade
reference library should be inst IileC
il the local chamber of commerce
(which should contain directories o.
flreign markets and directories and
lists of American exporters, exporting
manufacturers, dealers and commits
tsion houses. This reference library
should receive regularly all the NIB
LEGATIONS of the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce.
Direct contact should be established
with the American commercial attach
es and trade commissioners maintain
ed by that bureau in foreign coun
tries. Arrangements should be made
70 obtain regularly the foreign trade
publications Of the national foreigT
t.ade council, the American Manufac
tIrers Export Association, and of thJ
large banks which specialize in fore
ign trade. Subscriptions should be
made to the leading export trade
Journals. All this information can be
obtained and classified for the use O.
local manufacturers with very little
/ trouble and expense. Foreign visitors
Ito this country should be encouraged
i visit the local manufacturing plant:
Another effective method of obtainine
Information direct from foreign source!
I is for the local chamber of commerce
to arrange for the exchange of mem
bership and services with American
chambers Of commerce in foreigl
countries.
The Importance of Import Trade
1t cannot be too strongly emphasize,
T at the interior banker has an irly;y11
, ant part to play in the development o
, or import trade ,as well as that o
e II exports. Our dependence upon 9th
er countries for foodstuffs and raw ms
[ terials grows constantly greater wit
I the increase in our population and tn
, productive capacity of our industries
: In order to provide sustained maj
, ket for the surplus products of on
! manufacturers, We must have res
, ular and Increasing supply of man
commodities which are not produc
within the confines Of United State
, or which are produced in such sma
, volume as to be entirely inadeuuat
; for our requirements. We I1ust oil
: stain manganese for our steel mill
: from Russia and South Ameri a. On
t ,tanneries must have quehracho frol
) Argentine; our automobile tire indu
D TRY must obtain crude rubber fro
i Brazil; our machine shope. rail- ill
1 ,armored plate works and wire roE
/ factories must have nickel from Can
/ ga and New Caledonia; our tin pla