Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-22
Another Congress of the Three
Americas.
A BETTER ACQUAINTANCE DESIRED
How Trade With Southern Re-
pubIics Has Suffered.
HOPES OF REGAINING IT

The State Department has been notified
by the government of Mexico that it ac-
cepts the Presidents invitation to hold
second pan n-American congress, and will, in
turn, invite the republics of North, South
and Central America to send their repre-
sentatives in such congress to the City of
Mexico. Thus it is believed the success of
the movement is assured.
The State Department had already been
notified of the Willingness of Venezuela and
Guatemala to join in the congress, and now
that Mexico has entered earnestly into
the project it is believed that every one of
the republics of the three Americas will
send delegates to the congress.
Better Acquaintance Desired.
The President attaches great Importance
to the successful working out of this pro-
ject, the main object of which Is to bring
into closer touch the American republics,
and to cultivate an intimacy, not only in
commercial exchange, but in political rela-
ti0ns. The State Department has noted
with much concern the malevolent efforts
of certain interests to incite deep-seated
jealousy of the United States among the
Latin-Ame"ican republics. 1t is known that
some of these efforts originated with Euro
pean residents in South and Central Amer
lea, who We're desrous CT cripping the
trade of the United States with that Sec
ton of the world, and the Latin-Amer-
leans are largely swayed by sentiment, they
counted on reducing our trade in their own
interest by telling these people that the
United States had sinister designs upon
their political independence. The astoniSh-
ing fact is that these efforts actually OBJ
taincd considerable measure of success.
Exports to the South Fall OF.
The figures now In the possession of the
officials here show that, contrary to the
common belief, thu export trade of the
United States with our southern neighbors
has decreased enormously, the loss in dol
lars being stated at no less than SI0o0UD, coo
within the last decade. Ordinary CONNER
cial factors are said to b. insufficient to eX-
plain this loss, which is, therefore attro-
uted to political elements. For instance,
the exports of breadstuffs, which in 1S9:;
Were nearly S1S.0n0.G0o in value. decreased
last yaar to n little more than $500. 900.
Provisions fell off from nearly Sl4,000,000 in
1874 to less than SS,OjD010 last year. Cotton
and manufactures of cotton fell eff from
sS.o1O.01n in 1855 to little over 5000, 900
last year Oils and minerals decreased from
SJ,J0o.no0 in 1896 to S4.O0O,GGO last year.
About the only important article of export
which shows any increase in recent years
was manufactures of iron and steel, where
the total last year reached SIT 800 600, as
compared with S16.500, 900, the highest pre-
vious record, in 1893.
Decreased Imports From the South.
The loss in imports from South and Cen
tral America was also emarkabe. In 1892
the United States imported from these
countries coffee to the value of S120, ,O00, go;
last year the imports Were about S4S, ,OoO. 600
Sugar and molasses were import ed in 1884
to the amount of $S7, 900, O0O; last year the
imports Were valued at about SIS, 900, ,O0O
India rubber is practically the only article
showing any substantial increase in i'm
ports, the figures being about s1S,0OO,00O
last year, against s1o,0oo,O0o in 1890.
object of the Congress.
1t is confidently believed by the projec-
tors of this Congress that, as one of it's
results. much of this lost trade can be re-
covered by eradicating the unfounded sus-
picions entertained by some of the South
american republics. 1t is said that Mexico
and Brazil have done excellent work In be-
half of the United States in dissipating the
false IDEAS entertained by some of the other
republics on this point and ii is well known
that Mexico completely extinguished a half
developed project which contemplated a
league of South American republics mimi
cal to the United States. though ostensibly
the purpose was to guard only against in
fringements on our part. In that case the
Mexican government promptly and uneuuiy-
oCally refused to send any delegates to the
conference which was to be held ard by
earnest representations succeeded in break
ing up the project.
To Meet Next Winter.
The date to be selected for the convention
of the pan-Amcrican congress will probably
be some time next winter. Before it can be
fixed there must be a general agreement
between the nations to be represented upon
the features of the program of business for