The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-07-28

and that foreign trade could be ignor.
ed u We had the proper system fol
distributing the wealth which we our.
selves can produce.
There have been gestures by tn.
government toward adoption Of thai
theory. although not expressed II
those words, over . long period o.
years. Every high tariff proposal
with it, accompanying cry Of pro.
lection for infant industry" hal
espoused It. The MIRA, with ito ct.
tendant increase In costs, i = ster
In that direction. SO y the acre.
age curtailment program Of thu
agricultural adjustment administers
ton. All Of them are designed to I'm
prove living standards. That means
the cost Of productions, and every
time American costs 60 above those
Of Japan. Germany. England. italy
or our other world competitors. our
chances Of getting business which
they also seek become more remote.
The Argentinian purchaser, foe
example. Is not going to pay SUBJ
stantially more for American goods
no matter how strong his affection
for his North American brothers. II
he does. he will find himself going
out Of business because rival mer.
chants viii not follow his example.
The result Of these things IL to
reduce the foreign trade We have,
make the task Of getting more in
finitely greater. The only way We
can compete In world markets now
Is by having two sets Of prices, 4
high one for the domestic consumer,
. lower one for the foreign buyer.
Much was heard, when trust busting
was . major political interest, OF the
fact that steel rails, made In Pitts.
burgh, could be purchased cheaper
In China than in New York City or
Aurora. Ill. There was . defense for
this and there still Is, the rails sold
In China or Siam being listed Is
surplus.
The government now Is doing the
same thing with wheat, through an
export corporation. and may have to
follow the same policy with other
agricultural and manufactured COM
modities II our foreign trade Is to
continue.
What has happened to US u in
dicated by official statistics. The
total volume Of world trade has dim
Inished since the high point Of 1920
but We have lost more than other
From 1929 to 1882 our share
lell from 1888 per cent to 1922 per
:ent Of the total. Thus We not only
IRE losing, We are losing more rapid
y than other nations.
Increased costs Of engaging In for
sign commerce, such Is those I'm
posed BY wage boosts for California
'tevedores, speed the further develop
ment Of this trend. The demands Of
these men may be and probably are
Justified, yet we cannot close our
Eyes to the effect.
Secretary Wallace and other lead
ers have advocated that the nation
consider the situation and consciously
adopt . policy. either Of foreign
trade expansion or Of self contain
ment, or . compromise between the
Two. It is too much to expect that
ne. Is . people. can do this. Too
lew Of US are in position to see things
rom national standpoint.
But the policy Of self-containment
Is being inexorably forced upon us
~ apparently outside influences, all
II which affect either the possibility
II foreign trade expansion or Of
domestic production.
We can build an economic wall
around this nation and still continue
% live comfortably. We are doing it,
perhaps unconsciously but neverthe-
less surely.