Evening star., 1940-03-17
j. ). Trade Rise Adds
Force 10 WeI|es'
Plea for New Order
Export Coins Scored
Over Warning Motions
In All Parts Of Globe
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

In All Parts Of Globe
BY BLAIR BOLLES.
The arguments left by Undersec-
fetary of State Sumner Welles in
European capitals for the construc-
ton Of new world economic order
after the war, with all markets open
equally to all nations, were given
force here yesterday by the dis
covery that the United States is ad-
vancing its trade position in the
world commercial picture steadily
If every part of the globe-Europe,
South America, Asia, Africa and
Oceania.
The American rise during the six
war months, from September
through February, represents almost
80 per cent advance over this
country's trade during the same six
y months in 1898 and 1899, accord
ing to a compendium of official fig
ures available from the Govern
ment.
The statistics for the first six
war months show the United States
sold goods worth $1,745, ,035 900
abroad. In the same perid year
previous, the value was $780,
257,0OO.
Threat to Warning Nations.
The American upturn makes the
United States a growing threat to
the commerce of the countries dis
tracted by war from devoting
themselves to enhancing their own
trade position with other countries.
The American percentage increase
of exports to the various major
areas for the five months of Sep
tember, October, November, Decem-
Der and January, 1889 and 1910,
as compared with the same five
r-months in 1898 and 1899 are:
Europe, 10 per cent; Canada, 448
per cent; South America, So per cent.
The advance in Asia was from $2l3,-
100000 to s285, 800 900 worth Of goods,
and in Japan specifically from $l04,-
100000 to $123 600, 900.
Secretary of Commerce Hopkins
announced yesterday that February
Itself brought slight leveling to the
upward American export curve, but
the Governments experts in foreign
commerce, both at the State and
Commerce Departments, are conf
dent that the United States-even
discounting the effects of the Euro
pean warts entering major pc
sc do
This years $3.50 100000 February
trade was 81 per cent ahead Of last
years.
Gains May Be Lasting.
AS matter of fact, American busi-
nessmen, so tar as reflection OF
their views is available here, are
disappointed that the war has not
expanded their markets in Europe
more quickly. But the fact that for
ward strides are being made in
South America and Asia, away from
the chief arena of warfare, makes
Washington confident that the re-
corded expansion is of more lasting
significance that a swift war-born
upturn would be.
The United States at the moment
is the leading influence in the move
ment to eliminate all trade barriers.
This is the essence of the program
which Mr.. Welles took abroad.
Washington recognizes that nations
l abroad would be unwilling to accept
a policy of thoroughgoing laissez-
faire unless the advantage was ap-
parent to them on an economic
basis. The American economic bait
now is twofold: the laissez-faire pro-
gram would make it possible tor
foreign countries to share in
Americas growing commerce.; the
foreign countries which need finan-
cial assistance for competing openly
in the world commercial race may
be able to obtain gold from the
United States s18,0OO,0OO, O,OOO cache
at Fort Knox and West Point.
At present, Great Britain and
France, far from following any
laissez-faire ideas, are squeezing the
United States by special and ex-
elusive trade policies. This is recog-
nized here simply as one OF the fruits
of belligerent economy. If the
= United States were the worlds
dominant commercial nation at the
wars end, her trading strength
would give her a bargaining power
which, it is expected, would speed
the disintegration of British war
time commercial practices.
Five-Month Total, 1852, 900, 900.
The United States exports in
February, 1910, amounted to $780,
OBS, GOO. compared with $216, 6,157 900
in February, 1899. For the five
month period beginning with the
German attack on Poland Septem-
Der l and ending January 81, the
commerce with Europe increased to
1852 900 900 from $554,60O,0O0 in the
value of the exports for the like
period Of the previous year.
Germany, of course, which bought
e63 100000 worth of American goods
from September, 1888, to February l,
1899, is entirely out of the picture