Omaha daily bee., 1921-05-22
us. Falling
Behind in
Combine of Producers and Elk.
porters Believed Necessary
If America To Hold Own
In Foreign Trade =.
Europe Pools Imports
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
ChicSgo Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.

ChiTgo Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
| Washington, May 2l-The long
predicted commercial war after the
war-to capture foreign markets
and control OF natural resourccs--is
on in earnest among the. nations and
beginning to assume gigantic pro-
Iportlons.
Great Britain and France are al
ready on the firing line with the
latest innovations of commercial
warfare and Secretary of Commerce
Hoover has warned congress thar
the United States should lose no
time in perfccting trade weapons IT,
meet the onslaughts of its foreign
competitors.
While these foreign governments
are reaching out for control of vast
oil and other natural resources, enor-
nous combinations OF foreign capt.
tai are invading the markets of the
world to do battle with the scattered
and unorganized American export
ers. At the same time similar gi-
gantic combinations in European
countries are pooling their impofta-
! tons from the United States and by
eliminating purchasing competition
among Americans are obtaining
| American raw materials and manu-
| tactured goods at bargain prices.
Combination Necessary.
The conviction is spreading that il
| America IS even to hold its own in
| this contest American producers and
exporters must be allowed to COM
bine in trading with foreigners in
| the manner prohibited in domestic
commerce by the Sherman anti
trust law. The Webb-Pomerene act
permitting combinations of exporters
in foreign trade is step in this di-
rection, but a feeble step, it is as
serted, in meeting the competition OF
the foreign combines.
| In making his successful appeal for
additional appropriations for trade
expansion, Secretary Hoover lifted
the curtain for the benefit of the
house appropriations committee on
the commercial war among the ma
tions. .....
"The world is faced with an en-
tirely new era in foreign trade" said
Mr.. Hoover. Due to the economic
situation abroad there is growing
/ tendency to consolidate for militant
export purpose in practically every
country in Europe. This is develop
ing in two directions. The CONSOLE
dation of industrial concerns by
mergers of capital, and in this di-
rection the Developments are more
general even than i'll the United
States before the antitrust laws.
There IS another type OF combination
for export trade which consists in
the direct combination of exporters
for unity in the exploitation of for
eign markets.
Must Have Collective Action.
If we are to meet these combina-
tons we must secure more collec-
tive action on the part of our in
dustries. I have feeling that if we
are to hold our own we must at
least be able to furnish the special
information upon which our people
can act and such information must
be secured under expert direction.
There is another factor in for
eign commerce that requires a great
deal OF study and consideration and
that is new type of foreign COM
Observation-Disclosures of imports.
For instance, practically the whole
buying of hide and leather for ths
United Kingdom is now in one or
ganization. We have similar CONS
binations in coal, food, etc, in many
directions. The result of those cons
binations is to more or less disturb
prices within the United States. We,
must have general staff of special
lists to work out, in cooperation with
our own industries, policies and
methods by which we can meet those
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