The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean., 1920-01-14
FOREIGN MARKETS FOR FARM
PRODUCTS PRESENT PROBLEM
Vast Total Of Exports in Past Fiscal YearReconsction Gives
Uncertain Aspects to Future Trade Abroad-Merchant
Marine Advances Nations Commercial Interests
Production Costs Increase in Europe.

Neutrality-suspicious., cotton, wheat
and wheat -four made up 20 per cent
of the total export trade in agricul-
tural products during the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1919. The total value
of agricultural exports was $685.
o33, 1924. This amount of agricultural
exports exceeded by more than $780,
100000 the total imports Of all prod
ucts to the United States. These fig
ures represent large increase over
figures for pre-war years. the to,al ex-
ports of all products for the United
States in 1914 being $2,329, ,6S4,925. (.
Increase Due to War.
''This increase in foreign commerce
was caused by the war and was made
possible by four major war measures"
says the bureau Of markets of the
United States department of agricul-
ture. "These four war measures were:
The taking IF international commerce
out of the channels Of private trade;
the extension Of credits by the United
States government to the allies and
other European countries, amounting
to approximately $4,000 100000; the
assembling of all inland and ocean
transportation and communication IA
cilities; and the distribution Of food
stuffs through central organizations.
such as the interallied food commits
si0n." ,.
Belligerent countries sustained by
credits from the United States had
made extensive contracts for food sup
plies. and upon the release Of ship
ping after the signing of the armistice
. heavy movement Of foodstuffs re-
suited. These contracts are about COM
plete, the credits extended by the
United States have been expended, and
the crux of reconstruction has arrived /;
trade must return to the private cham
nels of finance, shipping, and barter.
and the question of our future foreign
commerce is important. The war has
left the world in a complicated polit-
ical, economical, Industrial, and social
situation, and few statesmen or econ
omists have ventured to outline q
definite program for the reconstruc-
ton period. Q
"Produes More, Consume Less"
An important and as vet indeter-
.minable factor In foreign trade during
the coming months is the result Of the
produce more and consume less'
campaign being waged in Europe. II
the campaign meets with general re-
+ sponse It will result In continued use
of substitutes, less rapid return to nor
NAL consumption, and decreased de-
mand for American products.
Prior to the war the United States
,enjoyed foreign market rather than
1 q foreign trade. Buyers came to the
, American markets, established credits
With American banks, bought and paid
for our products contracted for ship
ping In units Of the currency and
weights Of their own country, and in
vessels flying the flag Of their own ma
tion. The entire transactions were on
basis Of New York or American sea
board, and required only q very linn
tied knowledge Of the factors Of for.
I eign trade on the part Of the Aneri
!. can vendor In only Z limited way
can II be said that American trade
!. has heretofore penetrated foreign
markets AZ vi
Perhaps the greatest single factol
IN our future foreign trade in a1ricul
,,yni y,,snl ,,cfa IL fhn 34A nnricam mar.