The Washington herald., 1921-03-09
SEATTLE SHIPPING NAN

sEATTLE SHIPPING MAN
WANTS U. 8. TRADE PROGRAM.
Frank international discussions of
trade problems backed up by def
mite international agreements for /.
consistent foreign trade program
for this country are advocated by
Ross Sterling. Seattle shipping man.
seen at the Washington.
Il am heartily glad" said ster-
ling. that men like Charles schwab
and AdmiraIN Benson. are nghting
hard for the integrity OF the trade
built up during the war. despite
opposition and heavy odds. This
maintenance of q merchant marine
is all important, and we must cling
tenaciously to the gains made in the
direction of foreign commerce dur
ing the war, but We also must re-
member that we cannot have q mer-
chaht marine unless we have for
eisn trade"
Sterling believes in approaching
the subject In a scientific manner.
and declares that we. must first of
all determine with what foreign
countries 1t is essential for us to
trade; and from what ports in this
country the trade should be devel-
oped.
In this way" he pointed out. I'VE
may establish scientifically and sys-
tematically what trade routes are
desirable. Then we must determine
just what steps are necessary for
-us to establish and maintain these
trade routes. Ships are but one
link in the chain of transportation
which reaches from the producer in
this country to the foreign buyer"
WOULD HAVE PORTS IN
OPEN COMPETITION.
In the selection of ports for the
development of trade routes Ster-
ling recommends the policy already
recognized by Congress and the
United States Shipping Board of
making the ports compete for the
business of the shippers of the in
terror who will lean toward ports
where there Is least danger Of con-
gestion. delay, labor troubles, and
other hindrances to direct routing.
The South and Central American
countries. as our nearest neighbors.
offer the most desirable field of
operations for our merchants and
shippers, in the opinion of Ster-
ling. The West Indies, also. should
have our consideration, he says.
Then there are the other English
speaking territories of the world.
as well as the Orient, in which the
Pacific Coast is chiefly interested.
Foreign relations are an impor-
tsnt consideration and the attitude
Of our State Department will be
reflected in our. commerce with the
rest of the world" Sterling re-
minded.
WANTS TRADE RELATIONS
ABROAD ESTABLISHED.
Unless we establish the proper
foreign relations with the countries
with which We trade, and also with
our principal competitors. we shall
do moro harm than good" said
Sterling. Our competition should
be characterized by spirit OF
friendly rivalry. rather than cut
throat. operations. We must not ex-
plot the less developed nations of
the world.
Far too often our Southern
neighbors in Guatemala. Honduras.
Costa Rica, and even the more i'm
portant republics OF South Amer
lea. have SO often encountered the
mercenary. thoughtless type OF
North American that they are prone
to rega; every citizen of the United
States as little better.
Tariffs. concessions. and our
rights under the various manda-
tories established by the league of
nations should all be discussed in
a friendly spirit and there should
be the closest cooperation between
our State Department and the De-
partment of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce. or whatever other gov
ernment agencies are organized to
promote our commercial relations
with foreign countries"
Our tariff policy must be adjusted
to present conditions, Sterling says.
The situation of our debtors is
such that for many years they must
exert every effort to pay what they
owe this country. This they can
not do in cash. for they have not
the money. They must send us
goods. II we put a high protective
tariff on many articles IL will mean
limiting of payment by imports and
restriction of foreign markets for
our exports" he explained.
SEES BAD EFFECTS
OF HIGH TARIFF.
"A high tariff on imports cannot
materially affect the price of these
products either after their export
or while they remain in this coun-
try. As creditor nation we should
not put up barriers in the shape of
high protective tariff, II we want
our debtors to pay what they owe"
Americans must think in terms
or ships and foreign trade IL We are
70 become a great maritime power"
sterling says. I'VE must put in more
foreign trade courses In our univer-
stiles, We must teach foreign lam
guages in our schools. We must be-
come more than a one-language
people, despite the fact that we can
travel from the Atlantic to the Pa
cinc and from the keys of Florida
70 the Arctic Circle on English.
we must have more of such
propaganda for foreign trade as the
Mercnant Marine Show held in Chi
caeo last year. The FEDERAL gov
ernment must devote more atten-
ton TO the problem by developine
tne Foreign Trade Committee,
formed two years ago, into a body
tnat VIII be able to make a con-
strdctive contribution to what is
one OF the biggest problems of the
new administration" F.W.G
PLAY TOGETHER;