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THE OVERSEAS TRADE DEPARTMENT.

15th July 1919, Page 2
15th July 1919
Page 2
Page 3
Page 2, 15th July 1919 — THE OVERSEAS TRADE DEPARTMENT.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

AS OUR READERS are aware, the Overseas Trade Department was, in the first instance, constituted mainly for the purpose of acting as a connecting link and mediator between the Board of Trade and the Foreign Office. The head of the new defoartment became an Under-Secretary of State for both of the old departments which has hitherto exercised a sort of dual control over foreign trade matters.

The appointment of Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland to take charge of the Overseas Trade Department was welcomed as a good omen, because he is undoubtedly a fine organizer, a, tactful mediator and a man of determination and ability, with a full realization Of the importance of stimulating overseas trade. Some few weeks ago. we hinted at our fears that he was finding his position untenable. Now these fears are corroborated by his resignation. He was driven to this step because lie found that the conditions under which he -was working were such that he could not develop or, indeed, carry on properly the work of his department, being constantly hampered, particularly in respect of the organization of the Consular and kindred services. He has al-so been handicapped by the inadequacy of the accommodation made available

e24 for his ,staff, and this has undoubtedly had a very serious effect.

Anyone who has had occasion to deal with the Overseas Trade Department will readily agree that the staff there has shown distinct signs of breaking away from traditional red tape methods. It has been thoroughly keen and even enthusiastic. It has worked hard and ungrudgingly. It is, however, to be feared that, subjected to a constant stream of cold water, it has undergone a disheartening process which has knocked a good deal of the spirit out of it. It seems clear that, at the root of the whole matter is the old antagonism between the Board of Trade and the Foreign Office. From time immemorial, each of these departments has been notably successful in achieving one object, having effectively prevented the other department from doing good work in connection with the development of British Trade Overseas.

There are no doubt diffietilties in organizing the Diplomatic and Consular services on satisfactory lines, but these difficulties are only rendered 'insuperable by the pigheaded determination of certain old-established permanent officials to devote their admitted ability to the work of obstruction rather than that of construction. It would seem that the object 'has been to prove that, every suggested solution of the problem is unworkable. There has certainly been no tendency on the part of the two departments to co-operate cordially in order to make it workable.

-Under Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland the Overseas Trade Department, hampered as it was, has achieved a .certain amount of good work. It has developed schemes for bringing British industries into closer touch with overseas markets and, SO far as the Treasury would permit, it has taken practical action on those schemes. The resignation of the Chief of the department .must be recognized as a serious blow, by all those who realize that the continued prosperity of British industry is almost entirely dependent on the development of overseas trade. The question now is whether everything is to be sacrificed in order to safeguard the susceptibilities of a few highly-paid officials. A very big share of responsibility for money and energy wasted during the past few years ought, properly, to be allocated to those who by their jealousy have paralysed the workof others. , It, has been well known that, in many Government quarters, the best way to get a thing done was to convince the 'head Of one department that, if that thing were done, the head of-another de partinent would be irritated or discredited. • . We are glad to note that the. Press has taken the resignation of Sir Arthur Steel-Maitland very seriously. It is most improbable -that where he failed others will succeed, unless the conditions are vastly improved. The present Government has been placed in power for t-he purpose of securing efficient reconstruction after the great war. If a necessary preliminary is the removal of highly-placed-official obstructionists, then recourse must be had to that step if the Government is to continue to justify the slightest confidence on the part of all those who employ or who are employed in connection with British industry.


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