Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-25
IRELAND SEEKS NEW TRADE ERA

suitable for and 10 cent stores, sew
cheap clocks and watches,
cream separators, drug and toilet ar
t1cles. shoes, wooden tubs and churns
ana brooms. The standard American
house broom is an especial favorite.
Most of these goods are not bought
direct by Cork from the United States,
but are obtained from British or
houses in London. Liverpool
or other British trade centers; so
that neither customs import statis-
tics for Irish ports nor United States
export statistics indicate the volume
of trade that exists. For the year
ended June 80, 1917. the total value
was 27.210.S56. as against $42.757,497
in 1916. Imports from Ireland in the
fiscal year 1917 were $21,256,64S, as
against $50, 110.598 in 1916. But these
statistics are for all Ireland, and the
share Of south Ireland in them would
toms statistics are not classified by
countries of origin.
Prospects for United States trade
in the Belfast district are exceedingly
bright, in the opinion of
1IA0e I'm SOHSul Sndfp. SUD-
rr1.4 plies from the English man
ufacturers are necessarily
scarce, and owing to labor troubles
and depleted stocks throughout the
country it is not anticipated that COM
petition will be keen from that quar-
ter for some time to come.
AS indicating the varied field for
trade extension in the Belfast dis
trict it may be pointed out that there
has lately been a marked increase in
the number of inquiries made at the
consular office regarding agencies for
American firms dealing in such prod
ucts as hosiery and underwear, motor
cars and accessories, glassware ma
chinery. furniture and chemicals. The
outlook IN the future trade is ex-
ceedingly good. Consul Sharp believes,
and he sees considerable opportunity
Tor trade extension. The high prices
are In no way deterrent, he says, be-
cause money is plentiful and pur-
chasers generous.
Illustration Of the new spirit of
Irish industry is found in the poll
cies of the linen trade. During the
later stages of the war the Irish linen
industry, under government control
surmounted quite exceptional diff
cuities in supplying the fabric re-
CURED for aeroplanes. All foreign
fax was practically cut on, labor
problems had to be solved, and all
the manufacturers had to produce
under prices fixed by the government.
OF necessity this brought about
among the concerns In the industry
a degree of common effort which not
only achieved success, but generated
a
throughout the industry a feeling
that 1t would be disastrous after the
war to revert to the old system of
individual effort: that If the industry
was to prosper it would be necessary
to apply some of the lessons learned
in the struggle.
This new spirit has prompted the
furtherance of research work: it has
brought into be-
Promotion of ing the fax So
Flax Industry. t esety: to- Tor .n fus-
walton of fax in Ireland, and it has
led to the creation Of the Irish Linen
Corporation, for the launching of a
propaganda scheme intended to bring
before the people of the United States
the merits of linen fabrics of irish
manufacture, guaranteed for purity
and quality. The corporation entered
into a contract at cost of $145,995 a
year for three years for scientific
advertising as it is developed by
American manufacturers.
The linen merchants OF Belfast
have taken strong measures to pre-
vent any attempted cancellation Of
contracts by their customers. They
are well organized and represent
practically the whole of the Irish
linen trade. They insist that prices
must be steadied curing the CRITICAL
time of transition.
Great progress is reported from
Irish shipping centers. The yards
-. along the: River
ch;,,;,r Lagan ntinue
Developments. vessels, and neeo-
tiations are under way in that dis
triot for the erection of a new ship
yard. United States Shipping Board
vessels are making calls at ports in
Moore & Mccormack Of New, York,
Organizers of the direct freight serv-
ice between the United States and
Ireland, are making commendable
headway in their new undertaking.
The Lake Grafton arrived at Dublin
recently with the largest general
cargo on record from the United
States. Another OF their ships. the
Lake Gretna. has inaugurated the ex-
tension Of the service to Cork.
The consular representation for the
south of ireland reports that since
steamers of Moore & Mccormack be-
gan coming to Dublin and Belfast
there has been the keenest interest in
his district in their projected estab-
lishment of direct service from the
United states to Cork, as wen as to
Dublin and Belfast. In order to give
the line the utmost possible backing
in the business community a speciai
agency company Is being orranfzed
This Company plans to employ expert
shipping men to handle. the vessels
in bort and to make itself effectiye "a
a propagapda agency in. getting: cargo
~ ~ WILL p. KENNEDv