The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-11-24
FOREIGN TRADE
SERVICE
CROWS
Bureau ofForeign and Domes
tic Commerce Doubles 40
tivities, Klein srares

In letter to Secretary Herbert
Hoover summarizing the work Of
the Bureau Of Foreign and Domestic
Commerce for the year ended June
30, Doctor julius Klein, director,
pointed out that the work of the
bureau has doubled In the last two
years and 0urhl tie yea g5pe .el
the number of instances in which
1t has aided American business men
have tOtaled nearly 100000, with
an average of more than 5000
inquiries a day at the close Of the
fiscal year. On the basis Of an inyesti-
gatlon snvolving Z SIS Inquiries ad-
dressed by business firms to the
bureau II was found that the result
ing business amounted to about
$427 per inquiry. The annual report
covering the activities OF the bureau
was made public today.
The value Of the bureau to all
Americans concerned with world
trade, the letter says, was illustrated
during this past year by its infornla-
tional and. promotive efforts follow.
ing disaster in japan. Accurate
estimates were given OF the extent
Of the damage to the economic
structure OF Japan. Americans
relying on raw materials from
Japan were advised Of the position
and prospects. Markets for recon.
struction materials were tnvesti.
gated. The purchase of great
quantities Of supplies here was
furthered.
The increase in the number Of In
quiries received from the various in.
dustries in this country is held by
Doctor Klein to be ample demon
stration OF the effectiveness Of the
bureau. and particular stress is
laid upon the export trade services
rendered by the foodstuffs division
to the various branches Of agricul-
ture that raise crops for export.
Over $4,000 inquiries on foreign
market problems were received by
this one division from farmers, CO.
operatives and dealers in farm pro-
ducts, during the last fiscal year,
II annpaIed with less than $4,000
requests for. information recorded
for 1929. Following the foodstuffs
division in 1924 comes the autonao.
tive division with 100000 Inquiries.
the speeialties division with 49,.
600, and the textile division with
81, 900. A marked and highly salts
factory increase in the number Of
inquiries received from small firms
is noted.
The growing interest of American
business men in western Europe is
demonstrated by the receipt al the
bureau in 1923-24 Of no less than
$40, 900 inquiries relating to that
district,ssas against emily 80 geo dur.
ing the fiscal year 1921-22 Second
only to the interest in western
Europe is that taken in Latin
America, as evidenced by more than
2S2, 900 inquiries, nearly all Of which
have to do with practical and
immediate sales problems. In
1922 although interest in Latin
America was then keen as com
pared to previous years, the mum.
Der of inquiries received was less
than $1,000. A rapidly growing in
the Far East is reflected by the
174,000 inquiries received during
the lest fiscal wear as compared
with $4,000 In 1922.
A feature OF the years work has
been, The completion of surveys into
conditions surrounding the produc-
ton and handling under the control
OF foreign monopolies, Of number
OF highly important raw materials,
trimming materials,
nitrogen, agricultural products, and
,,iies being limited to
such products as must be imported
into this country in large quantities