Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-07-29
SOUTH AMERICA.
Interview with Judge Scion Thatcher,
Of the Commercial Commission,
Who Has
Just Returned from the Field of His
LabOrs-His Experience In
Shipwreck.
How the United States Is Regarded BIZ
Her Sister Republics = Trade
Relations.

WASHINGTON, July 2S.-Judge Solon
thatcher of Kansas, a member of the
commission appointed to visit Mexico
and South America in the interest of
trade between those countries and the
United States, arrived in Washington
to-day, direct from Liverpool, and calle d
upon the Secretary of State. He landed
at New York yesterday. Mr.. Curtis,
secretary OF the commission, is expected
the latter part of the week The vessel
on which Judge Thatcher and
Mr. Curtis sailed from Brazil was
wrecked on coral reef when compass
atively short distance from land. The
wreck occurred about Z o'clock In the
morning, and the vessel and cargo were a
total loss. The passengers took to the
small boats, aud at night time succeeded
in reaching small Brazilian port. They
were refused aid of any kind, and were
compelled to put up with such comforts
as they themselves found. The following
morning small craft took them on
board, and in six days landed them at a
port where vessel was waiting to take
them to England.
Speaking of the object of their visit
to the Southern countries, Judge
Thatcher said to-day to an Asso-
clated Press representative; I'm every
country that we visited, excepting,
perhaps, Chill, we found the apth
and the people des;rrou of s+ro,s,iIs titles
ing tne relations between tbeirs bisngunen- ngr n,
and the United States. In near,,, uouu.ry
case they said: We look unon the Un;tayy Upieay
states as our mother country bnt bara
received no attention from her Fora;gu
powers have sent commissioners to We, !,
US ana have endeavored to strenotben'
the ieeilng between themselves and our
country. This visit of yours is the first
lotlmatlon that we have that the United
States takes an interest in MS The re-
eeepsean At Chilli was indeed ofic;allv
chilly, though personally we were
treated very cordially. The author.
ities did not express an eaeerness
10 promote commerce between the two
countries. In the other countries the
people SAID the United States was big
and rich country, and they looked upon
1t as guide. Our practice was to in
tervlew everybody from whom we could
gam information that we thought would
pe Yaluatie. We had audiences with
the highest officials, and with business
men, Americans, Germans and En-
glish. All pointed out the ad-
Vantages to be gained by intercourse
with our own country. In some offthese
countries we found American products.
agricultural machinery, etc., despite
the drawbacks that are encountered in
getting them into the South American
markets.
The judge said that the establishment
OF steamship lines to the ports of these
countries was the solution of the prob
lem, and pointed out that France, Eng
land, Germany, Spain aud Italy all had
already established such means of com
munieation. In most cases the South
American States would aid in establish
ing American lines.
JrE1se Thatcher added that all the
countries visited were in favor of a con-
ventlon OF North and South American
countries to consult on commercial and
financial interests, the United States to
take the initiatory and name the topics.
These countries were particularly inter
ested IN education. There were already
American teachers in the Argentine Re-
public; These countries also advocated
the adoption of common silver coin,
especially those nations which mine sill
yer,
OF the visit to Mexico, Judge
Thatcher said the commission found a
STRONG sentiment among prominent men
In favor of strengthening the CONNER
cial interests between Mexico and the
United States The Germans now con-
troll the trade in that country. The
commission will make reports of the re-
suits ofits visit to each country. While
the, commission is not called upon to
make recommendations, it will probably
suggest that convention be called to
which all of the Central and South
American countries and Mexico should
be invited to send delegates.