The New York herald., 1921-12-19
Gulf and Caribbean Regions
Lead as Sources of Imports,
Says Commerce Reports
HOOVER MORE OPTIMISTIC
Cessation of Hostilities Ap.
pears to BE Widespread, Ex-
cept in Turkey.
Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau, I
ShingtOn. ID q DE- IQ

lnenl Oh commerce, indicate a decided
tendency toward smaller volume of ex-
ports to Atlantic Europe, which has been
our best market in the past.
During October 622,550 long tons
we're exported TO this region. as COM
pared with 907,494 tons in September
ana l.S17.153 tons in January" says the
publication. "Che depreciation in Euro
peon currencies undoubtedly has a good
deal to do with this decline, which Is
taking place during the season of the
year when the volume of our exports is
ordinarily near its maximum.
Since so large a proportion of the
volume OF our imports is oil. It Is natural
TO find that the Gulf and Caribbean
region leads as a source of our imports
During October this region supplied prac-
tically two-thirds e the 2,976,465 long
tons of commodi 4 s coming into this
country, while of the total volume of inn
ports into the United States so far this
year shipments from the Gulf and Carib-
bean region constituted about 70 per
cent
Atlantic Canada stood second in i'm
portance as a source of imports, but led
all other countries and regions in the
volume of commodities shipped to and
from the United States in October. there
by maintaining the same relative posi-
tion that it held in September.
Taking the total for the first ten
months of this year and combining inn
ports and exports 1t appears that coun-
tries bordering on the Gulf of Mexico
and Caribbean Sea lead all other regions
in the volume of trade with the United
States. while Atlantic Europe comes sec
ond Atlantic Canada third and the
United Kingdom fourth. In the figures
for the first nine months the United
.N.f l. u.
fourth This change in the relative po-
sition of Atlantic Canada and the United
Kingdom is due partly to a downward
tendency in exports to the United King
dom and partly to the increasing i'm
ports from Atlantic Canada, which at
this season is sending gread deal of
grain into the United States"
"European situation Improves
Herbert Hoover Secretary of Com
merce, writes that the economic situa-
tion In Europe is not as gloomy as some
statements would make il appear. The
recovery is necessarily slow. he says,
and difficult. Continuing. he says
Year by year since the armlstice the
combatant states Except Russia) show
steady gains in social and political sta
bility; they show great progress in re-
covery of agriculture, industry. foreign
trade and communications. The one
field of continuous degeneration is that
of governmental finance; that Is, the un-
balanced budgets, the consequent cur
rency initiation, &c, of certain countries
with it's train of credit destruction. The
commerce of the whole world obviously
suffers grievously from this failure in
fiscal finance and the apprehension that
flows from it. and unless remedies are
foun dthe great recuperation in the five
great fields of social, political. industrial,
agricultural and commercial life of the
past three years is endangered. It's ef-
fects spread constantly outside the bor-
ders of those States predominently con-
cerned and substantially check our re-
covery also.
THE most eminent and most danger
GUS Of these unbalanced initiation situa-
tions is Germany. Her case depe ads
upon the method and volume of repara-
ton payments. AS the United States
does not participate either in its control
or it's receipts, we have no voice orTight
to interfere. In any event, this is pecu-
liarly a European matter and must be
adjusted by the parties at interest II is
earnestly to be hoped that the present
negotiations upon reparation may sue
ceed in finding a sound basis that will
secure permanent economic and political
stability to Germany and certainty OF
regular payment to the Allies. With this
effected the way is open for construc-
tive consideration of the situations in
other States.
Outside of the Government finance
of a limited number Of states. the out
look is very encouraging. Any general
survey Of the social situation In Europe
will show that the danger Of Bolshevism
is passed. partly through improved stan
dards of life and partly through the
salutary lesson of Russia. Democratic
institutions are gaining strength among
the 150. 900. 900 people formerly support
ing autocracies. In Russia itself ex-
trcme communism is slowly boiling to
death in a cauldron OF starvation, and
it's leaders freely acknowledge it's failure.
"MiIiion Fewer Under Arms"
I'm the field of international political
relations. aside from conflict in Turkey
war has ceased and treaties of peace are
effective throughout the world. Russia
no longer threatens any serious military
offensive. The warning states have set
tied for time their major territorial
issues. and while there are remote forces
of instability. such as Irridentism, yet
the new boundary alignment Is securing
acceptance and the agencies for allaying
HlleTnaNlOudl lTlCllOn are
selves steadily more effective. There are
bright prospects Of limitation in naval
armament. Agreed limitations In land
armament are not very hopeful, but the
economic pressure OF taxes and unbal-
anced budgets Is slowly disarming Eu-
rope. and Il win disarn more OF them
yet. The number of men under arms
has decreased by fully million In the
last twelve months.
"1n the field OF economic life the prog
ress OF agricultural and industrial pro-
ductlon year by year since the war Is
very marked. Famine has disappeared
from Europe except IN Russia Barring
those countries where credit machinery
Is checked by danger of fiscal bank
ruptcy, such as is the case OF Austria.
food, fuel, and clothing supplies are suf-
ficient, albeit at low standard Of living
in some places but in even these coun-
tries the standards are much higher than
the low point after the armlstice, and
are thus not such a factor OF discomfort
as would otherwise be the case Popula-
tions have fairly settled TO work and
industrial efficiency and productivity are
being steadily restored.