The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-15
OUR TRADE OPPORTUNITY


OUR TRADE OPPORTUNITY
Inasmuch as our continued national
prosperity depends in large measure
upon the ability Of other nations to
take our surplus products and to trade
with US, it is encouraging to perceive
evidence Of general optimism through
out the nations of Europe, with, Of
course, certain notable exceptions,
principally Germany, Austria and
Russia. Much of Germany's unem-
ployment is due to the misguided pol
icy Of refusing to work in the Ruhr.
Thus Germans plight is more or less
voluntary. In Austria, there is dis
cernible a feeling that the worst is
over and that recovery, even though
slow, is on its way. In Russia there
is appearance of greater activity, but
not much is expected as long as the
principles Of communism are applied
to private property and enterprise.
In the other nations, however, a
well-defined betterment is noted.
Great Britain's unemployment is de-
Ginning, especially along certain lines,
and her taking of American raw ma
terials is expected to increase. The
Scandinavian countries are flourish
ing, and even Poland has forgotten her
political turmoils in the far more alb
sorbing and healthful interest of MAX
ing living and laying by little for
rainy day. Italy, France and Spain
show substantial activity, the first
two still repairing the ravages of war,
while Spain is said not to have re-
linquished the favorable position in
which the war left her. With South
eastern Europe busy, it is expected
that the disputes which yesterday
pointed to war are today classified as
more or less academic and not affect
ing the individual destiny. There is
nothing so curative of mental unrest
as hard work at living wage, and
after having starved for so long on
nothing doubtless the workers of
Europe find almost any
wage a living wage.
The market anticipations of the
United States are still further height
ened by developments in Mexico which
promise a resumption of full diplo-
matte and trade relations together
with substantial guarantee of the
safety of American investment in
Mexican resources. Mexico has al
ways been a good potential customer
Of the United States, although the po-
tentialities have never been fully de-
partly because of successive
periods of unrest in Mexico, and partly
because in the past the United States
found plenty Of market for her out
put without going to the trouble of
making a special bid for the favor of
any people. The formation of Latin
leagues for the purpose of
promoting mutual relationships has
not been without it's favorable effect
upon American prestige and American
commerce in our neighboring repub-
lies.
Inasmuch as the greater portion of
our present output is absorbed in re-
pairing the void in our national re-
quirements which was created by the
bending of all our energies and re-
sources to winning the war, there is
lively expectation that when it comes
to repairing the still greater void in
other nations, especially those in the
thick of the fight, there will be de-
mand for our peak production for
many years. Added to this are the
pioneer expansions in certain of the
South American countries, principally
Chile, Brazil and The Argentine. 1t
is expected that some day Brazil will
come to rival the United States in
wealth of natural opportunity. 1t is
only reasonable to expect that the cap
ital furnished by Americans will make
fortunes for them just as British cap
ital made fortunes for British during
the upbuilding Of our own industrial
and commercial fabric.
The field is ready and the harvest
is near. 1t remains for American
business men to develop the opportu-
nifty that invites them, to study the
fundamentals of foreign trade, and to
operate along such sound lines as will
win US this business and enable US to
retain world leadership in supplying
the worlds markets. 1t is up to us.