Evening star., 1927-05-18
EF|GHT ON TO SELL
us. GOODS ABROAD
Agencies Here in Counter
Drive to Anti-American-
Made Articles Campaign.
BY j. C. R0YLE.
Special Dispatch TO The Star.

NEW YORK, May 1S.-The Depart
ment of Commerce is turning itself
into a board Of strategy, working out
a plan to check the most determined
drive against American foreign trade
which has taken place since the ar
mistice. The more influential nations
OF the World are working to check the
payment of a single dime for Amer
ican goods until they can obtain tnem
from no other source, 1t IS INDICATED
by a survey now under way py the
department.
nIoved hv the foreign countries. ac'
rordinr 10 official reports to Wash
inrtons is to stipulate that only do"
mestic materials may be used IN Tor
eirn government enterprises. WIDE
snread propaganda also is being en-
Moved Not only do the other coun'
frlas SET IN the cry Buy from those
Who buv from u.s." but they add, "ano
buy as little as possible.
Preference to Italian Goods.
IN Italy civil and military depart
n1ents OF the government, as well as
all bodies under control OF the STATE,
nroducts OF italian manufacture. In
addition the Fascist government has
ordered reduction in prices. ana In
wages This will affect American
goods in Italy, and aid competition or
italian goods with American products
hoth in this country and in otner
markets Of the world
A report of the Commerce Depart
n,ent saws: "The Fascist government
created in April new commission TO
organize a body for conducting an
active campaign of propaganda TO
persuade Italians to give prererence
to italian products. After sufiicient
general advertising has been done, II
will extend the scope OF It's actlVlty
10 individual branches of Industry
In Great Britain there IS no e1'
listing legislation providing that only
domestic goods may be USED IN gov
ernnent contracts, but campaign
,,rgirr the people to buy British
goods" is being widely supported by
the post ofice department, newspaper
advertising, press propaganda and
other means. In addition preferential
tariffs accomplish much the same re-
suit as legislation.
This applies also to Canada, South
Africa and Australia. In Canada
there has been a strong move toward
barring trade papers, so as to help
keen American goods out Of Canadian
markets. Cuba, instead OF raising
tariff walls, Is urging that we reduce
our tariff barriers on sugar, threaten
Ing to trade elsewhere II we refuse'
Propaganda against American goods
in France is Of a constantly recurring
nature, usually depending on franc
tv,kn vzyttt vyfaVRh
the Gallo public is aroused against
the United States at the moment.
Take Counter Measures.
An oficial report OF the Department
of Commerce says that during the sta
bilization of the Belgian franc the pop.
ular theme against consumption OF
foreign goods was constantly reiterat-
ed, and only a few weeks ago there
was q particularly bitter attack
against American products in the Bel.
gian press. based upon the attitude OF
this country in Nicaragua ana China.
Another Belgian method Is to make
the time for submitting bids so short
as practically to bar American bidders
on big contracts.
It is an open secret that Poland has
been using strenuous efforts to elm
mate foreign products. The National
Products encouragement Commission
has been formed by Japan, while the
Soviet government, in carrying out its
policy of absolute control of foreign
goods, has ruled that no commodity
that can be produced in Russia shall
be bought elsewhere.
Some American industries already
have taken counter measures. For
example, the National Builders Sup
Oly ASsnciafian and athpr orra niya-
tions are behind a movement to re-
strict Government construction ex.
penditures to domestic materials, and
'buy American goods" campaign by
the cement industry already is bearing
fruit.