Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-12-09
COMMUNICATION the
PRIME NECESSITY

mount necessity of the present day
for the republics of North and South
America is fast mail. passenger and
express steamers. from one to the
other. according to John Barrett. d.
rector OF the International Bureau OF
the American Republics. In the an
nual report Of the director today, he
en-: phasizes this need and urges the
United States to do her part toward
correcting present conditions. In
order to make the exchange of trade
between the American republics what
i; should be. Mr.. Barrett says there
should be established in all these
countries banks controlled by United
States and native capital or of direct
and exclusive agencies of representa-
tive United States banks. Another
need that he calls attention to is a
greater familiarity on the part OF com
merscial interests in the United
States with the detailed character
istics and special demands OF the
Latin-American market.
In urging better transportation
facilities between the republics. Mr..
Barrett explains that he is not neces-
sarily advocating the so-called sub
siiy" program. 1T is simply stating
the facts as to present conditions" he
adds Whether they come with or
without a subsidy Is not for the
Bureau of international Republics to
say. /, is simply question of do
ing something. doing it we'll. and do
ing it quickly. No other institution
or organization in America has such
opportunities Of realizing this situa-
ton as the International Bureau OF
American Republics. and what 1t saws
expresses the sentiments Of large
majority of the men who understand
the field and the conditions that sur
round it,
The point is made in the report that
as no cities, states and sections Of
the interior Of the United States can
get close together without firstclass
railway facilities, SO no cities. nations.
and sections of Pan America can
develop intimate and prosperous con-
ditions of trade and mutual goodwill
without frst-class steamship facilities.
THE business men, the buyers and
sellers, the travellers and tourists. and
the people Of the world at large are
never going to travel back and forth
between the Atlantic and Pacific sea
boards of the United States and
Latin America until they can make
the journey speedily and comfort
ably, suggests Mr.. Barrett. More
representative men Of the great city
of Buenos Aires proceed in one week
to Europe ON the excellent vessels
that connect that port with Southamp'
ton. Chertourg. Hamburg and Bar
celona than 20 direct to the United
States in q whole year upon the slow
err going semi-freight steamers that
connect the metropolis of Argentina
with New York"
All countries Of Europe. and even
Japan. are actually doing more today
to foster trade with Latin America
through first class, mail, passenger.
and express steamships than is the
United States which prides itsef on
its energy and greatness. the director
CONTINUES. He points to the example
Peru has set the United States in
putting on a line of new and fast
steamers to run from Callao to Pana-
ma. and says 1t is to the credit OF
Brazil that 1t is assisting line Nv
ing the Brazilian flag to keep up SER
vice with the United States.
In discussing the need Of the United
States becoming interested in hanks
n the other republics. the director
saws the best argument in favor oil
this contention is the success o!
European banks and agencies and
the corresponding building up OF
European trade. There Is not now
one bank below Panama controlled
BY United States capital he remarks
The report advises the business
men OF the United States to accept
the credit system which is In vogue
throughout the greater part OF Latin
America. even II they do not fancy
it. Accepting It means simply adap'
tation. not financial loss" explains Mr.
Barrett.
The characteristics Of the Latin
American market, the report points
out, requires the sending there as
agents only refined and tac'fui men
who speak huently Spanish or Portu
guese II Is added that the agents
too frequently can not even SPEAK
English correctly and have patron
iz'ng manner that is offensive to the
La;Ins.
TIE work Of thes bureau for the ad
vatEement Of commerce and friend
ship. peace and good will mutual
acquaintance and cooperation amonf
all the American nations has receive!
a great impetus during the last year
according TO the report. This wa
dpe- largely. II is explained to tho
visit Of Secretary Root TO South
America and Mexico IN 1905 and
1907 and his personal and oficial con
Germ for, the development cf closer
relation. between the United states
and her sister nstions: the reciprocal
interest OF the diplomatic rcpresen
tatives IN Washington Of the La'ir
American government: and the eff
OF Andrew Carnegie Of S7so,oeo To-