Evening star., 1949-02-19
For a Better World

To the Editor of The Star:
The struggle to sustain world stabiliza-
ton, spanning nearly two decades, finds the
United States rallying to the battle cry of
four-pronged peace offensive. 1t found
expression in the inaugural address of
President Truman: it possessed none of the
spectral atmosphere which urged the late
President Roosevelt to observe on March 4,
1888 "+ we have nothing to fear but
fear itself ~.
His call for "bold new program" to
make scientific advances and industrial
progress available for improvement and
growth in the underdeveloped areas Of
the world serves tWofold purpose: Cd It
emphasizes the significance of agencies
within the Government which must deal
concretely with the developmental aspects
Of our economic relations with other ma
tions. and CD it carries challenge for
business and industry, calling for guar
antees to the investor TO be balanced by
guarantees in the interest of the people
whose resources and labor 60 into these
Developments =
The President did not neglect to under
score the fact that material resources for
this purpose are limited; nor did he fail to
anticipate renewed accusations of impe-
rialistic aspirations ('" exploitation has
no place in our plans '"). Therefore,
as this observer sees it, the major point at
which to take off in the implementation of
point four is to generate the kind of public
relations that will simultaneously dispel in
vestor apathy and aid in removing the
causes of skepticsm and distrust among
others as to our motives.
To be sure, the desired objective is stinu-
latlon of trade. creating new markets and
revitalizing those which have stagnated
This is a responsibility that should be shared
hlcjneSS INV
ment 1t is to be noted that business Gov
ernment and labor stand at the apexes of
triangle with an area of uncertainty be-
tween them. We, as a Nation. are geared
to an industrial future; with few exceptions
we hold the major portion of the worlds
resources both in materials and production
methods We, therefore, owe it to that fu-
ture to teach the proper use of the fruits
of productivity.
Learning Value of Commerce.
Where business is concerned, good be-
ginning can be made by continuing on-the-
job training with view to refreshing man
agements ideas and workers curiosity as
to where the goods are going, who will use
them and why. One point of which capital
Should be made is the community Of inter-
ests shared by the representatives Of busi-
ness and Government abroad.
From personal observation of this rela-
tionship, it is desired to point out some of
the circumstances under which 1t has been
strained, and to make suggestions by which
it can be rendered more effective. In the
first place. business ought not to be con-
demned for wanting to expand its activities
in foreign markets. This phase Of growth.
naturally, has been fostered by postwar
shortening of communications lines and &C
celeration of point point travel. Busi-
ness should be criticized roundly however,
for dispatching representatives who lack
adequate training in languages and knowl-
edge of customs in those countries to which
they are sent; nor should they be encour-
aged to attempt product distribution in
geographical areas which are not adaptable
to them.
1t also can be pointed out that appraisals
OF reporting officers in the various Govern
ment establishments abroad reflect, in gen.
eral the climate" in which trade is car
ried on; however, his determination to do
the job has been quite often hamstrung by
instructions, from which he is not encour-
aged to deviate, and the preparation of
these is quite obviously assigned to drafting
officers who, themselves, may be limited in
their understanding of the significance of
the times.
Finally in summing up the problem high
lighted by President Truman, if it resolves
Itself into question of better way of life,
review of the time-tested methods en-
ployed by Sir Henri Deterding or Col. H. H.
Rogers. who understood the significance of
their times, is indicated; if accomplishment
is sought through higher standards of liv-
ing, only the informed businessman who
knows what the traffic will bear, can pro-
vide the solution. w. j. MILLER.
National Health as Topic
To the Editor of The Star: