Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-13
A Need to Show OFF

There is something more than simple urge
to "show off" American products behind the rec
ommendation by Secretary of Commerce Weeks
that the United States should resume partlclpa-
ton in international trade fairs. For there are
two hard facts involved in the world trade pic
ture today One is that the fight for markets
is growing increasingly sharp as countries that
were exhausted or crippled industrially during
the war are becoming stronger and more agrees
sive commercial competitors. Another is that
there is politico-ideological aspect involved in
the competitive trade efforts of East versus West
throughout the relatively neutral areas OF the
world.
In the years Immediately following World
War II, American business held clear advan-
tage in international trade. Our industrial
plant unchanged and expanded during the
war, converted quickly to peacetime production
Our economic aid programs put dollars in the
hands of nations that were ready and willing
to become customers. Little by little, however
other nations with business and industrial skillS
have been improving their position as producers
and sellers and, at the same time filling
greater proportion of their own needs without
having to buy from US. Britain, France and
some of the other West European allies of the
war were the first to start the upward climb.
But the defeated nations West Germany and
Japan, have joined the parade.
In it's remarkable economic revival, West
Germany has made its most spectacular gains
in foreign trade Despite the loss of normal
markets in what is now East Germany and, in
fact, in all of Eastern Europe, West German
exports have increased sevenfold since 1913.
Their dollar value in 1858 exceeded 81 billion
level comparable to the prewar exports of the
entire German Reich. Thus it is that West Ger
man statesmen are among the most ubiquitous
in the world markets today-and are often
the toughest competitors for their American
opposites.
But there is Importance, too in the prop
aganda side of the trading and displaying of
national products around the world. Soviet
statesmen" have been armed with more than
tractors and trucks in the big trade fairs of
recent years, not only in both parts Of Europe
but in Asia and South America. The very absence
of American representation repeatedly has been
turned to advantage in propaganda ways as
we'll as in orders-the Russian explanation"
being that the Americans are too busy prepar-
ing for war to produce peacetime products.
American craftsmanship has earned itself a
high rating in most times and circumstances.
1t is facing a situation today where it must
justify such rating, both at home and abroad.
Secretary Weeks is proposing that the Govern
ment re-enter, in modest way, field that also
is open to the private concerns in the export
trade. It could be good for the national inter-
est as well as profitable for the private inter-
ests, if American products and representatives
of their makers should once more be appearing
at the industrial exhibitions and trade fairs.
Tremulous souls fear that toy guns and
planes stimulate aggressive thoughts in the
young, but, on the other hand, many father
has been slugged in the eye with darling baby
doll.