Omaha daily bee., 1922-06-09

The conference in Washington.
which came to such happy. fruitful
results In connection with the lar
east should ultimately lay the
ground Tor trade expansion and im-
proved trade relations in the far east.
In South America. in the far east,
IN the newer countries OF Europe and
Russia, lies the trade that must be
developed 10 keep the manufacturing
countries Of the world going. Fore
most among these manufacturing
countries Is America. and In the
struggle for the trade OF those coun-
tries we will now come in eompeti-
tion with the old established mari
time nations of the world.
u. s. - Creditor Nation.
Today. as a result OF the world
war. no longer debtor nation but .
creditor nation. through expanded
plant capacity and now TO use the
vast gold reserve we have aceumu-
lated, we have entered into eompeti-
ton and will more sharply compete
in the future for the markets OF the
world with the nations which have
long established merchant marines
those being the trading and manu-
featuring nations OF the world.
Il is not to be supposed that III
that competition we will find at all
times the prompt and ready response
in the matter OF marine carriage that
is the very life OF foreign commerce.
il we are TO rely on our competitors
for il. :
Before the war we had no such
need OF selling surpluses, for we had
neither plant capacity as we have
now, nor did we have capital to en-
gage as now. Americas position
has changed since the world war. and
with il has come the crying need Tor
the establishment Of merchant
marine that will insure the free de-
yelopment of markets for the sur
pluses OF our farm. mine and factory.
Debt Of Europe.
Europe. which was our creditor be-
fore the war. owes us today over
$4,000, 100000. She must pay IN
either raw materials, or in manufac-
tured or partly manufactured
products. We must make sure. on
the one hand, il possible that we ac-
cept no commodities from her to the
point OF severe injury to our own in.
dustries; and. on the other hand. If
we do take from her such quantities
as NAV result in a surplus. that we
position ourselves to dispose OF such
surplus in the newer markets to be
created throughout the world.
These newer markets will come
through the development Of South
America. the far east. Russia, and
the Balkan states. 1t is in these very
markets, however, that our debtors
will compete with US. Unless we
have merchant marine that is right
ly balanced for our peace time
needs, unless we have merchant
marine under our own flag that we
know will sail regularly and surely
to the ports of the customers we
would create, we can have no assur-
ance Of steady disposition Of our
sufpluses abroad.
Can't Depend on Competitors.
For, if we rely on our competitors
for our carriage, they will very prop
erly see that on occasion those things
happen which will put US out of mar
kets they too are endeavoring to
capture. It is the disposition Of sur
pluses abroad that controls price and
prosperity at home. U..
For those peace time needs we re-
quire practically the same type Of
balanced merchant marine as for war
purposes. We require, the fast pas
senger ship which transports the ne
gotiators of trade, and the mails
which keep the trade going; we re-
quire refrigerator ships and ships
built for special trades. Thus the
manufacturer can see. in the chang
ing conditions America finds itself,
that in the ultimate his very life may
be dependent on the existence of an
American merchant marine. No less
interest has the farmer.
In the next article ! intend to dis
cuss his relations to this question.
A ssvsnth article Will b published to.
morrow. 81 u.-.. -