THE CUBA REVIEW 



opportunity involving approximately $1,000,000 which, it is understood, has been awarded 

 to an American firm. Philip Holland, Consul at Basel, Switzerland, through his personal 

 efforts succeeded in having an order for $14,000 worth of shoes placed with an American 

 firm in competition with foreign houses. Frederick T. F. Dumont, Consul at Dublin, 

 reported the shipment of approximately 35,000 tons of American coal to Ireland as the 

 result of his activities. Dudley G. Dwyre, Consul at Maricaibo, succeeded in placing 

 several agencies for American goods in Venezuela, one of which resulted in an order for 

 ten American automobiles. Another officer was fortunate enough to arrange a contract 

 between the Government of the country in which he was situated and an American firm 

 for locomotives valued at $2,000,000. These are but a few illustrations of the kind of 

 work done by Consuls in addition to their many other activities. When it is considered 

 that achievements of this kind continue from year to year, an idea may be gained of 

 the immense value of Consuls in practical trade extension. 



Trade Directory of Whole World 



There is still another field in which Consuls have proved serviceable and that is in 

 gathering definite up-to-date information concerning merchants and importers in foreign 

 countries dealing in products which might be supplied by American manufacturers. A 

 manufacturer of shoes at Boston may be selling his product in Valparaiso, Chile, and may 

 desire to discover other shoe dealers in Santiago or Concepcion likely to be interested in 

 American shoes. He need only to write to the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com- 

 merce of the Department of Commerce at Washington to obtain complete lists of the 

 principal reliable dealers in these other districts, lists which give the capitalization of the 

 dealers, their nationalities, volume of business and other pertinent details. Like informa- 

 tion in regard to merchants in every city of importance throughout the whole world is 

 available. More than 95 per cent, of these names Hsted in the Bureau of Foreign and 

 Domestic Commerce and supplied to American exporters are furnished through the 

 Department of State by American consular officers stationed abroad. From January 1, 

 1921, to October 20, 1921, Consuls supplied no less than 15,270 names of carefully selected 

 foreign merchants and these World Trade Directory reports are being constantly revised 

 and kept thoroughly up to date. 



A new field of consular activity is found in the settlement of trade disputes. Al- 

 though Consuls are not legally empowered to arbitrate or officially to settle trade dif- 

 ferences between American and foreign merchants, they have been able through their 

 unofficial good offices to assist in adjusting thousands of such difficulties. This has been 

 an important factor in aiding American business interests in many instances to secure 

 fair treatment and has assisted materially in maintaining the prestige of American busi- 

 ness abroad. Special credit in this regard may be given to Carlton Bailey Hurst, Consul 

 General at Habana, and to Arthur C. Frost, Consul at Guatamala, who have 

 adjusted a number of trade controversies. Recently Thomas H. Bevan, Consul at Bahia, 

 transmitted a draft of several hundred dollars through the Department of State to an 

 American firm in settlement of a trade dispute with a Brazilian business house. 



But the right in trade disputes does not always lie with the American firm. Re- 

 cently George H. Pickerell, Consul at Para, submitted the complaint of a Brazilian firm 

 that a shipment of American goods had been unsatisfactory. The American firm, upon 

 investigation, found that a mistake had been made and a credit of $5,000 was immedi- 

 ately extending to the complaining firm, thus enabling the exporter to maintain his friendly 

 relations and carry on his trade in that district. Likewise Charles J. Pisar, Vice Consul 

 at Capetown, submitted the complaint of a South African importer, of inferior goods 

 shipped by an American house. The latter at once sent a new shipment to replace the 

 goods which were the cause of the complaint. 



In all the work in behalf of export trade the closest relations exist between the 

 Departments of State and of Commerce, which are seeking so to utilize not only the 

 Consular Service but the Diplomatic Service as well to promote in the most effective 

 manner the advancement of American trade. 



