New-York tribune., 1910-01-23
KNOX WINS TRADE
TWO BIG CONTRACTS.
argentina to Spend ,S93 ,OOO,-
900 an United States.
[From The Tribun. Bureau.I

rom Inc IrlDure Bureau-l
Washington. Jan. 12.-The first iuportant
concrete result of Secretary Knox's COM
mercial policy in his administration of the
Department of State was announced to-day
Ayres to the effect that the Argentine gov
ernment had awarded contracts TO an
American firm for the building of two
Dreadnoughts for approximately 100000.
The legation also reported to the depart
ment that the Argentine government had
closed contracts with the Bethlehem steel
Company for 81 100000 worth of ordnance
to be used in equpping the torpedo boats
now building i'm European countries.
The contracts are not only the first of
such magnitude to be placed in ;he United
States, but may also be taken an indcd-
tion of the success of the aggressive ef-
forts of the United States to obtain pro-
portionate share of the trade of South
America
AS an evidence of the interest of the de-
partment Secretary Knox directed the
charge J'affaires at Bueucs Ayres to-day
TO express the qualification OF this govern
ment for the award.
The successful bidder for the battIeships
of Quincy Mass. Permission was given
to the company TO build one of the ships
at the yard, of tile New York Shipbuilding
and Drydock Company, at Camden, y. j.,
If desired.
The significance of the present accom-
plishment lies, however in the fact that
1t is only the first achievement of the new
commercial policy of the State Department
initiated by Secretary Knox. The estab-
lishment of the South American Bank by
American financiers Will, II is believed.
attract still more important trade to the
United States. and there is reason to be-
lieve that such a develooment is looked
forward to with decided favor by the
countries themselves.
Further than this, negotiations are nov
under way with the Turkish government.
which. if they result successfully, as seems
probable. will obtain for the United States
the building of railroad in the Turkish
dominions involving an outlay of approx
mately sl00O0oeI1. If this contract Is OBJ
tanned American materia and American
labor will be drawn upon to build the road
Powerful financial interests are back of
the American-Ottoman Development Com
pany, which purposes to finance and under
take this project, and there is at the pres
ent time no apparent obstacle in the way
of a successful issue of the negotiations.
The field for American capital and labor
In China has not been delimited by the
Immediate refusal of the Japanese and
Russian governments to take up Secre-
tary knoxS proposal for the neutralza-
tion of the Manchurian railroads. The i'm
perial government has approved the project
for the building of the road from Chin
mately at Aigun, ami American interests
will share equally with those of other pow
ers in the construction of this road. AL
though the State Department has not been
officially informed. dispatches indicate the
successful conclusion of negotiations re-
garding the Hankow Railroad loan. which
marks the opening OF American activity
I'm the building of railroads in the Chinese
Empire. In this project the United States
will share equally with Germany. France
and Great Britain in supplying materials
for the road.
Other projects which will ultimately
bring about more favorable conditions for
American manufacturers are also under
consideration There is prospect of enor-
nous development in Central America
within the next few years. preparations for
which have already been undertaken in
the way of readjusting the finances of the
five republics thus assuring peace and OPP
portunity for industrial and commercial
activity