The Washington herald., 1910-08-01

That the commerce OF the twenty Latin
American republics south Of the United
States is increasing with such remark
able strides that it is deserving Of par
ticular attention is shown by the special
report Of Director John Barrett. Of the
international Bereau Of American Repub-
lies. to the Fourth Pan-American Con-
ference. now In session at Buenos Ayres,
Argentine Republic.
After pointing out that the work and
correspondence Of the bureau have in
creased 900 per cent since the last con-
ference. IN 1906. and that il has been an
active and useful factor in numerous
ways for the promotion Of the pan
American friendship. peace. and com
merce. the director says:
Some new facts about the foreign com
merce OF the twenty Latin-American re-
publics will astonish most persons. The
! latest statistics Of the International Bu-
reau Of American Republics for this re-
port show that in the year 1903 the twenty
republics south of the United States
bought and sold IN trade with the rest
Of the world products valued at the
splendid and surprising total OF s. ~. 30l.
! 600. Assuming that there are 1000, 900 in
habitants in Latin America, this gives a
/ per capita trade Of approximately $50
/ The foreign COMMERCE Of China and
Japan combined. with a conservative es-
innate of their population at $4,000. 000
was approximately N.O00O0O,OO0. or only
half that Of Latin America. giving a per
capita Of less than s. This comparison
/ is not in any sense intended as a reaec-
ton on Japan or upon China. but SIM
ply and solely 10 emphasize the remark
able Importance and progress OF Late
America, which are not sufficiently appre-
ciated.
Foreign Trnde Increases.
'Analyzing still -urther these instruc-
tive and even fascinating figures. we find
that this grand total represents an al
most phenomenal increase in one decade
as over the average foreign trade for III,
years 1s96-7-S. Of $40 35l6,O0O LatiT
America can wen be proud Of such Z
record. II must convince the most hard
headed doubter that the twenty nation:
which reach in unbroken array from
Mexico and Cuba south 10 Argentina and
Chile are indeed worthy Of the admira
ton and study OF the rest Of the world
and particularly Of the United States
which always prides itself on its trade
growth and material prosperity.
The total OF Latin-American foreigl
commerce for 1909 divided into export
and imports shows a notable balance o
l.. Z -
ports were valued at s.. 232.lo 900; IN
} imports at $50, $4,000. OF a favorable bal
ance Of 1886. 9O5.o00
''The United States bought from an
sold to Latin America in 1909 product
valued at S5S9. SO2.O 600. The average for IN
three years OF 1907. 1905. and 1909, wa
S5SS. 500 900. Now contrast this total Wit
the average Of a decade ago. or for 1Ssi
1897, and lS9S, and we find the latter Wa
change OF trade between the Unite
States and her sister republics more tina
doubled itself in approximately ten year:
Taking 100000 as hIgh-water mar
Of the trade Latin America and IN
United States exchanged last year, whs
becomes OF the complaint Of the unir
formed men that the United States is be
ing outstripped rapidly by Germany an
France? When the United States buys
as she does. one-fourth OF all Lati
America sells TO the world. and sell to
one-fourth Of all It buys. no one ca
logically say that the United States an
Latin America are losing their con
merce with each other through the con
petition Of europe. and that the Inter
national Bureau Of American Republic
is falling IN its work Of making Mort
and South America better known to eac
, oh