Evening star., 1933-06-08
u. s. CUTS NUMBER
Of TRADE AGENTS
IN FOREIGN SERVICE
Commerce Department Re-
duces Personnel Abroad
From 1853 to IS.
RECALLED EMPLOYEES
TO RETURN ON JULY |
Curtailment Brought About as Part
of Administrators Economy
Program.

The foreign trade promotion service
of the Commerce Department, which
was organized in 1914 by Secretary Red
field and later enlarged to spread its
activities in Al countries, has been dras-
tically curtailed, Secretary Of Commerce
Roper announced today.
Only Is commercial attaches will be
retained abroad out Of the present force
of 1853, he said. These agents will work
in conjunction with the State Depart
ment in promoting trade for the Amer
ican exporters.
Those slated to be ordered home have
been notified by the department to leave
their posts July /. Some OF those to be
dismissed, Roper indicated, probably
will be placed in other jobs. The Sec
retary also made it clear that those
slated for dismissal will be brought
home at Government expense.
Expenditure Reduced.
The dismissals are brought about by
the drastically curtailed expenditures
for the department for 1884 Although
$50, 100000 has been appropriated for
this agency for the coming year, OFF,
cials said today expenditures would be
limited to $29 900 900 as part Of the ad-
ministration's economy program. In
1882, the department reached its ex-
penditure peak of $50,000,000 and had
on its rolls at that time 1900 en-
ployes in all sections of the work.
The cutting down Of the personnel
Of the departments foreign service is
only minor part of the program. Hun
drcdc cf Cfhor oy,,r1nyoc ", the doro ~
ment are slated for furloughs, but OH
cials indicated today that an effort
would be made to place those whose
civil service efficiency ratings are high
in the proposed industrial control board
set-up and other newly created agencies.
II these plans are carried out, officials
said, only few employees will actually
lose their positions.
Among those slated for indefinite fur
loughs are married workers whose hus-
bands or wives are connected with the
Government service However, 1t Is ex-
planned that this applies only to the
routine clerks and not those couples
holding key positions in the service
Hundreds Of questionnaires have been
sent out by the department to married
workers and notifications Of their dis
missals will hinge on the manner in
"AAASAA SAASy ASRAy w VIC quCotiOiAc.
Duties Of Attaches.
The duties Of the foreign commercial
attaches, trade commissioners and as
sistant trade commissioners were to
render aid to American commerce by
assisting In the selection of distributors
and agencies abroad, by contact with
exporters. travelling representatives, by
supplying information on specific mar
kets for American goods, and by keep
ing the American exporter informed on
current business developments.
Secretary Redfield sent 10 Of these
agents abroad in 1914. As this coun-
try's foreign trade increased, the force
was enlarged from time to time until
1t reached its present peak Of 1853
agents. The department Is now work.
ing out plans with the State Depart
ment to keep the service as near its
maximum peak Of efficiency as pos
sible. officials said.
Meantime, Roper said his plans for
the departments Advisory Committee
Of major industrialists to introduce
long-term planning against recurring
business depressions would be put into
operation shortly.
The movement, initiated by the cabi-
net oficer in a recent address before
the Chamber Of Commerce OF the
United States, has received definite in
dorsement from group Of nationally
known business men, among them
Henry I. Hartman, president Of the
chamber; Alfred p. Sloan Of General
Motors, Walter c. Teagle OF the Stand
ard Oil Co. of New Jersey, Alexander
Legge of the International Harvester
Co. and Gerard Swope Of the General
Electric. These men, Roper said today,
are selecting committee Of 80 to serve
as permanent national planning COM
mission. The full committee Is to meet
later this month