Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-04-03
THEABCOF
FOREIGN TRADE
Why the international Interchange OF
Commodities is Il Vital Neces-
sity for Every Country

Foreign trade, as We understand It
had its inception in the first inter
change of commodities between triba
clans in the early days OF history
From tribal interchange il grew &c
the interchange of articles OF com
marce between different countries and
later across the seas. At this point
foreign trade literally became foreign
commerce, since the very word com
merce" means across the seas.
Twentieth century progress has
made foreign trade a vital subject for
every producing and consuming cOun-
Try on the face of the earth. Natur-
ally, the productive capacity Of every
country. whether in fOodStutfs, raw
materials from mines, or manufact-
ured articles from the simplest to the
most complicated, first concerns It
self with domestic consumption. Once
however, this domestic consumption rs
satisfied, the immediate question is
the disposition Of whatever surplus
there may be.
1t is here that foreign trade comes
in. In the last ANALYSIS foreign trade
is the international interchange Of
commodities forming part of surplus
production. I'm ShiS connection, it
must be kept clearly in mind that the
Importation of raw materials and fin
ished products is as integral part in
foreign trade as is the expectation Of
raw and FINISHED products.
Prior to the great World War, the
United States participated in what
might be termed q spasmodic foreign
trade. In a number Of raw materials
and in a few manufactured products,
foreign trade was well advanced, al
belt attended by many inconviences
Of craftsmanship, shipping and tinan-
cling. Almost overnight this situation
changed World War conditions
created an enormous demand for viz
tually everything grown, mined or
made in the United States. Literally
the Nation was forced into an eX-
banded wartime condition of foreign
trade. a merchant marine was
brought into existence by productive
enterprises which staggered the un-
Outstanding of the world, and the
country prospered amazingly.
The end Of the war appeared at
first likely TO cause little Interrupt
ton to this enormous newborn for
eign trade. Later, however, the per
iod OF deflation set in and the foreign
trade of the United States shrank as
quickly as it grew.
But the problem now confronting
the country as 4 whole is the steady
expansion of this foreign trade on
sound economic foundations. This pro-
cess is well under way. 1t will be
continued. The rehabilitation of Am
erican foreign trade brings with It
the opportunity 10 place the United
States so far i'm advance of any other
country in its commerce with the
nations Of the world that never again
will there be chance for another
country to uSurp its place.
In this rehabilitation, the most I'M
portant factor to be demanded is that
the work is countrywide in its APP
plication. No producing nor manu-
featuring community in the United
States can afford to be so Self-center-
ed as TO ignore the foreign trade 1t
is perfectly true that there are 4 large
number of centerS which cannot. i'm
tho very nature Of things. directly
participate in either the importation
or the expectation Of their products to
countries beyond the seas, but in the
case Of a manufacturing community
IN the Eastern part of the United
States which i'm enjoying commercial
relations with q foreign country, the
very fact that products are taken
away from that community for ship
weUt beyond the seas creates at once
a demand for other products which
must be filed bv importation into that
community from other parts Of the
United States.
If. for example. n community in
Pennsylvania exports great uuantit
OF steel products TO countries beyond
the seas, Il argues the presence Of q
manufacturing citizenship whose time
and energies are devoted particularly
and exclusively 10 the improvements of
that line Of industry. Hence. that
community becomes a potential Gus
toner to other parts of the country
interested in the growth of food
stuffs and the manufacture of articles
for the creature comfort Of the people
and. since the Pennsylvania commun-
ity to produce these needed foodstuffs
and creature comforts. the v2cum
must be filled $rom other parts Of he
United States.
So, indirectly. foreign trade reaches
every part Of the country and the
international interchange of commodi-
ties forming part OF surplus produc-
tion throughout the United States.