The San Francisco call., 1906-12-29
SAYS GREAT FIRE
WAS BLESSING
John Barrett Tells How
Disaster Advertised This.
City in Latin America
ADVISES. MERCHANTS

John Barrett, United States Minister
TO Colombia and director of the Inter
national Bureau of American Repub-
lies, was the guest of the trustees Of
the Chamber of Commerce yesterday.
In the morning Barrett was taken on
an automobile tour of the city by Cap
tain William HI. Marston. Harry D.
Love1and and C. w. Burks. Shortly
after noon the party sat down to lunch
con at an uptown cafe, others present
being c. H. Bentley, William L. Gerstle,
Captain William Matson, William G.
Nugan, James Tyson, Rufus p. Jen-
nings. George d. Gray, Harry Rosen-
field, II. S. Trien, George e. Butler and
s. S. Connor. The luncheon concluded,
Barrett was called upon to address his
hosts In part he said:
1t is especially important and appropriate that
San Francisco and California should now study
the extension of their commerce with the re-
publics of Latin-America which border on the
and State are much exercised over the ques-
ton of Asiatic immigration. and the admission
TO new field other than that of the Orient
and TO get into closer touch with the great
confronts us with no serious dangers of immigra-
tion or racial differences. IT, in the course Of
Japan. China and the Philippines shall be less
ened by the greater production and the de-
yelopment of manufacturing in the Far East,
as now seems probable, it will be absolutely
necessary for this Pacific Coast to devote more
attention TO Latin America.
While it is to be hoped that our trade with
Asia will be vastly increased and our differences
with Japan will be satisfactorily adjusted, 1t
must be admitted that there are grave eco
nomic and social problems ahead which may
hamper its growth.
None of these unfavorable eventua1ities con-
front in sister Latin republics.
San Francisco now has splendid name and
situation in Central and South America, or
which il should take immediate advantage To
day San Francisco is probably better known IN
that part of America than In any other city
port in the wide world after New York and
and FIRE disaster of last April was blessing
in disguise in the matter of spreading San
Francisco's fame. There is not town or ham,
let from Mexico to Patagonia that does not
know of this city and its relation to the Pacfhc
Ocean. Every South American newspaper has
been filed with columns of description of San
Franciscos characteristics and of its grand
struggle to recover from its catastrophe.
San Francisco is starting out upon new
life. She needs every stimulant possible to
build up her material prosperity. Let her then
consider the Latin American trade particularly
of the best means of advancing her
commerce. for filling her harbor with more
shipping. and for providing a new territory OF
expansion for her manufacturers and merchants
There is question that the eleven or twelve
republics of Latin-Amerca. which border on the
Pacific Ocean and directly accessible to the
shipping of this port. desire to get into closer
touch with this section of the United States
ciaI possibilities of Japan. China and the Philip
pines. it is to be hoped that you will master the
whole Latin American market, and trade cond1
tions from Mexico to Chile.