New-York tribune., 1922-12-31
Germany Not Considered ns
Serious Competitor in
South American Business
WASHINGTON

that az compared with the foreign busi'
nesses done during is2l-'22 tho United
States has made an increase Of rs per
cent since July I. 1922. while Great
Britain has gained only g per cent.
The foreign trade Of France has shown
a decrease IN that time OF Z per cent,
while Germany has lost IA per cent.
The voluminous statement was drawn
up by the Department Of Commerce
after the most careful Investigations
in every corner OF the earth. Il viii
be used By Congress as the basis up n
which will be determined the future
policy Of Official support and guidance
In this field.
Two outstanding notes were struck
In the rep3rt. The FIRST is that through
the expansion g year ago Of the Bu-
reau Of Foreign and Domestic Com
meree-the American government trade
department-and the resultant strides
this country has made. Great Britain's
foreign commercial representatives are
pouring their alarms into London. II
the recently gained advantages are 70
be held, the United States must, there
fore, exert still greater efforts.
The other high point Of interest In
the report shows that the German
comeback scare has failed 20 mate
rislire Germany Is 'o-day mot seri-
Gus potential competitor Of American
exporters, especially in the South
American countries" where that eoun-
try formerly had such strongholds, i,
is declared This Is due 10 the great
obstacles that country is under such as
the fact that a large part OF the Ger
man raw materials must be bought
abroad. where the mark is worth but
little.
Warning Concerns Germany
In its discussion Of Germany. how
ever. the report sounds a definite warn.
.ng:
Germany Is not productive OF very
many raw materials. Take. for in
stance. copper. You cannot 20 far in
the industrial field without copper Il
must be bought from US AZ very high
mark quotations. The same is true
Of zinc and lead. The only material
Of which Germany holds any native
supply is potash.
The result is her competitive threat
20 Us has been considerably cut down.
Nevertheless. she IL beginning 20 mond
her situation somewhat, though her
currency troubles are still serious. The
trouble with that huctuating currency
is not that the mark is low-it Is that
10 IL fuetuating.
"Ths German situation must be
watched from now with special care be-
cause OF the possible stabilitation Of
their currency and its consequent re.
fex on our trade" IL states signif-
csntly. "lf this currency is held at
fairly immobile level Germsnys com
mercial and industrial position will
materially change. There is some pos
sibility Of future German competition
in nearby, shor, haul markets and
especially where they have had old
connections 70 trade on"
As evidence Of IN. foreign trad.
gains made since the reorganization
year ago Of the Bureau % Foreign and
Domestic Commerce, which now offers
a definite sales service 10 every Amer
lean producer covering the entire
world, II is pointed out that the volume
Of inquiries and specific problems han
died during the past year increased 800
per cent.
Taking vp the question Of the atti-
tude % other countries toward the for
eign trade accomplishments Of the
United States since the war. the report
discusses. as an example, the situation .
in South Africa, where this country
WAS just getting foothold At the out
break Of the war. The British are now
getting back into South Africa. and are
making especially strenuous efforts 70
protect their trade in this, which they
regard ss a prior feld for them, II says
However. as the result Of the opera
tions OF the American Office, the Fed
Grafton OF British Industries. which
corresponds 70 the American National
Association Of Manufacturers and Is
an. enormous organization Of all tho
great industries Of the empire, has
made this report:
There is no organization IN behalf
Of British firms more complete or up 70 !
date than the commercial bureau Of the
American government trade depart
ment No trouble is too great and ex-
psnse is secondary consideration 70
the securing Of business 20 the United
States Of America. The degree Of
American penetration into the South
African field il not without its les
sons
American Activity Watched
Similar warnings are going 70 Eng
lard from South America. One Of them I
10 "Ths shippers and Exporters Trade"
states; at Is somewhat remarkable /
.hAt American activity in Argentina Is
very noticeable. in view Of tho dim
eultiss imposed on United States sales
by the high quotation obtaining in
Buenos Ayres for United States dol
lars" II add1 there is ample evidence