Evening star., 1923-02-04

and reports are just commencing to
come in on the leather industry.
At present the Office is arranged on
regional basis, covering the traders
of the world in which American
manufacturers and exporters are in
terested by geographical divisions
Beginning July l, the Lewiston will
be reorganized on commodity basis,
with a large increase in personnel.
This is being done so that closer CO.
operation can be had with commodity
experts in the various commodity
divisions, representing machinery.
textiles, petroleum, automotive prod
ucts, shoes, paper, etc.
As the commercial intelligence di-
vision has been operating during the
last two years, clerk has been in
charge of the reports from each re-
gion. preparing these various COM
modify lists on Industrial machinery.
textiles, paper, etc. Under the COM
modify reorganization plan one clerk
will specialize on each commodity.
knowing the changing conditions all
over the world. keeping trade lists
current and cooperating with the
specialists in the particular COM
modify division.
A Recent Development.
This entire service has been devel-
oped within the last three years. Be
fore the war this government had no
system for investigating the foreign
firms regarding their business stand
ing and Importance in each country.
Before this service of collecting de-
tailed information was started the
only information that the Department
Of Commerce was able to give Amer
lean business men was a list of for
eign firms and addresses taken from
directories, but with no definite in
formation about them. Now the
American manufacturer and exporter
can be put directly in touch with
those concerns who are in a position
TO import. to meet obligations and to
furnish exceptional service. This is
a great help in the selection of for
eign agents
During the war American exporters
had to apply to the government for
the names of foreign firms to whom
they might sell their merchandise.
In order to carry on this work prop
erly 1t was necessary to compile a
large fund Of valuable data concern
ing the business. organization, ma
tfonality and financial standing or
individual firms. After the war was
over it was decided that this was just
the kind of service needed by the
government in times of peace to in
telligently aid exporters in develop
ing a foreign market for our surplus
products.
Cooperation Worked Out.
After number of interde partmental
conferences an order was issued call
ing on all consular offices to prepare
and summit world trade directory re-
ports on all important firms in their
respective districts.
American manufacturers are also
deeply interested in the sources OF
supply of such commodities as are
not produced in the United States.
such as rubber, tropical foodstuffs,
tropical lumber. sisal, flax, etc. To
meet this need the commercial intel
Iligence division is collecting up-to-
date reports from experts in all the
countries, so as to show where such
raw materials are now being bought
and where the potential supply for
the future is to be found.
Secretary Hoover has been prompt
ed to concentrate on this service for
bringing the American manufacturer
and exporter into touch with foreign
buyers, and the biggest commercial
ORGANIZATIONS in the country have
given their best cooperation to this
Hoover program, because they have
visioned the fact that the expansion
of American overseas commerce is
dependent largely upon the ability OF
the government to maintain just such
a service as is now being given Dy
the commercial Intelligence division.